During our employer engagement activities, a concerning trend was identified: college leaver talent pools are increasingly reluctant to consider Solent priority sectors as a career choice.
But it has been revealed that early teens’ job choices change during the ages of 16 – 18. BBC Bitesize research shows that the top ten career choices for 13-16yr olds includes Health & Social Care and Construction-based roles: both priority sectors. (BBC Bitesize)
While a range of reasons for this may exist, our roundtable experts believed a common solution to this reluctance could be an effective, positive marketing campaign to focus on the benefits of working in the industries. The recent article confirms our own findings and demonstrates the importance of closing the skills gap in these vital sectors.
We need to sustain the positive lens on these industries held by 13–16-year-olds to stop the decline as working age approaches.
