Employability and Careers insights

In response to concerns over youth unemployment, skills mismatches and gender labour market segmentation and in alignment with the Ministry of Education's Education Sector plan (2018-22) and the National Strategy for Human Resources Development (2015-25), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is experimenting with new approaches to career guidance in partnership with the UK-based Education Development Trust (EDT).

The modern labour market can be a challenging, competitive and complex place for young people to navigate. There are approximately 73 million unemployed youth globally (ILO.org). The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated the share of youth aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training (NEET) in 2020 to be at 23% globally and at 33% in Southern Africa, 31% in MENA and 11% in European Union member states (ILOSTAT). Successful engagement of young people in the labour market is essential for their own personal livelihoods and wellbeing and for social and economic change.

The National Careers Service supports thousands of people each year, providing advice and guidance to help our customers make informed decisions about careers, courses and work.

Careers support interventions in England have long been designed and delivered separately for young people and adults, creating a siloed system. In January 2021, the government’s ‘Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth’ paper highlighted that the careers landscape in the UK is ‘confusing, fragmented and unclear’. What could be the benefits of a more joined up approach? In this commentary, we discuss the opportunity to streamline provision of services and create a continuum of support across all ages.

We have been delivering the National Careers Service on behalf of the UK government since 2004. We work in the north east, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Humber and in parts of the south east of England. The National Careers Service offers informed careers, employment and skills support to bridge the gap between education, training and employment; our success in delivering this contract resulted in our award of Ofsted 'outstanding' status, making us one of only two providers in the country to achieve this.