New Report for WorldSkills UK

Public First was commissioned by WorldSkills UK to survey 2,008 UK employers between 30 April and 29 May 2026 to understand their views on young people and work, employability and technical skills. Key findings include:  

• Most employers agree young people are facing a tough route into employment. Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) say it is harder for young people to get a job today than for previous generations.
• Almost all employers (95%) think that the ‘right mindset’ is important when they’re making a hiring decision, while teamwork, attention to detail and quality and adaptability are the skills which are valued most.
• Employers feel that hiring young people with the right skillset could bring immense benefits to their workplace, 70% believe that being able to hire young people with the right employability skills is likely to increase their revenue.
• Skills competitions offer an opportunity to develop workplace readiness – nearly three-quarters of employers (74%) say taking part in a competition to develop employability skills is important for developing the skills needed in the workplace.

Read the full report here

Download the polling tables here