Lack of careers advice leads to low aspiration and low achievement

Fiona Mellett, Managing Director, Skills Solutions

According to a new report, only half of young people aged between 14 and 24 receive any formal careers advice, resulting in low aspiration, and many of them following unsuitable career paths. The report, Life as a Professional published by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is based on a survey of almost two and a half thousand young people and their parents, and was compiled to coincide with Professions Week.

The report suggests that a large number (86%) of parents are happy to give careers advice to their children. Of those who aren't, the majority (60%) are reluctant because they don't feel that they know enough. One of the findings was that: "Where aspirations are low this appears partly due to lack of information, rather than negative perceptions."

Fiona Mellett, Managing Director, Skills Solutions said: “The findings of this report are very worrying, but sadly, very familiar. Responsibility for providing independent careers advice for young people now rests with schools, but unfortunately, many schools are just not equipped or resourced to do it. Parents obviously want to do the best for their children, but most parents aren’t fully informed about the range of options facing their children.”

“The education and training landscape has changed enormously in recent years, and there are many new vocational routes into professions that were previously the preserve of graduates. Many of our recruits progress through Apprenticeships to higher education, earning and gaining valuable work experience as they develop.”

“Unless the quantity and quality of careers information and guidance improves, too many of our young people will continue in this spiral of poor information, low aspiration, and low achievement.”