a study on the aspirations and expectations of young...

(EX)ASPIRATION NATION A study on the aspirations and expectations of young people and their parents July 2013

“If you ask children in the UK, all they want to be is pop stars and footballers.”

David Cameron, January 2013

“Kids nowadays just want to famous.”

Barbara Follett MP, 2008

2

We wanted to hear from the young people – and parents of young people directly…

… and got a very different picture

Online poll of 679 young people (aged 14-16) and

527 parents of young people (aged 14-16)

Fieldwork: 1st – 13th June 2013

Nine focus groups with 14-16 year olds, 16-18 year

olds and parents

Coventry, London & Leeds

What we did:

Survey fieldwork and all things data by ResearchBods

Design, moderation, analysis and interpretation by

BritainThinks

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Young people are more serious, conscientious & industrious than sometimes portrayed…

4

What do young people want to achieve most in the next ten years?

“Having a job I love”

70% “Moving out/owning

my own home”

54% “Being married/in a stable

relationship/having a family with kids”

56% 5

And what’s not important?

1% “Owning designer

brands”

6% “Being famous/

being on TV”

5% “Being rich enough not

to have to work”

6

They are prepared to work hard to meet aspirations:

67% see setbacks as a

chance to prove themselves and

work harder

78% would work even if

they were rich enough

61% believe that getting on in life is more

about hard work, whereas 31% believe it is more

about luck

7

76% want to achieve more than

their parents

65% would prefer to work even if it paid them less than they could get

on benefits

Otherwise, young people seem unrealistic about work…

8

£35,350 £21,424

AVERAGE EXPECTED SALARY IN 10 YEARS

M E D I A N F U L L - T I M E ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR 22-29 YEAR OLDS (2012)

They are likely to over-estimate how much they will earn…

9

... And are unaware of the type of jobs that will be available to them Considering creative arts & culture:

Considering media & publishing:

24%

20% Considering retail & sales:

8%

3% Considering manufacturing:

10

... And whether any jobs will be available at all

0% think they will be unemployed

after school

Current unemployment

for 16-24s is

20%

11

Thinking about personal finances, many are setting themselves up for disappointment (especially according to their parents)…

12

Housing expectations are an issue…

78% 49%

of young people are optimistic about moving out of their family home in 10 years

of parents are similarly optimistic

But only

13


“FIRST TIME BUYERS WILL BE AGE 40 BEFORE THEY CAN AFFORD HOMES!” (31st March 2013)

6 in 10 expect to own their own home

before the age of 35

14


48% of young people expect their parents to help with a deposit for their first home…

…Only 30% of parents agree

15

of parents think being free of debt is one of the three most important achievements for their child

Compared to only

64% 28%

of young people

Attitudes to debt also differ…

16

of parents don’t think it worthwhile taking on debt to get a university education

But only

39% 26%

of young people think the same

Attitudes to debt also differ…

17

There are other ways in which parents and young people don’t see eye to eye…

18

Thinking about the next 10 years, relationship and family life aren’t big priorities – but young people are more enthusiastic than parents

16% 9%

Proportion of young people believing that having a family with children is one of the

three most important achievements:

Proportion of parents thinking the same:

19

Thinking about the next 10 years, relationship and family life aren’t big priorities – but young people are more enthusiastic than parents

15%

4%

of young people believe marriage to be one of the three most important achievements…

… But only 4% of parents think the same

20

There are also gender differences…

21

Girls more likely than boys to think that certain things will be important to happiness in ten years time…

Some things matter more to girls

Being in a stable

relationship

(46% v 35%)

Having children

(19% v 13%)

Being comfortable with your

appearance

(20% v 9%)

22

Boys more likely than girls to think that certain things will be important to happiness in ten years time…

Other things matter more to boys

Being very well off

(17% v 8%)

Living in a place you like

(33% v 26%)

23

Girls also expect to earn less than boys do

Girls’ expected salary in 10 years

£33,670

Boys’ expected salary in 10 years

£37,125

Difference in approx. expected earnings = 9%

Actual difference in earnings between men & women = 9.6% (ONS 2012)

24

33% 58%

“I expect to earn more than my partner when I’m older”

25

These differences in aspiration and expectation are reflected in young people’s role models

26

Boys

Girls

27

There are a number of barriers that young people believe they will face…

28

Intense competition for jobs

Loss of job due to state of economy

Lack of parental support

Your own lack of determination/effort

Bad/insufficient career advice

Lack of support from teachers

Distraction by friends

Not knowing anybody who has achieved what I want to achieve

A lack of suitable training, e.g. apprenticeships

Getting a criminal record

Poor physical health or disability

Lack of support from social services

Getting into debt

Prejudice or discrimination

Mental health issues like depression

Failure to get good enough grades or academic qualification

Lack of money

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)

Likelihood of facing barrier (% of young people saying ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to face relevant barrier)

Barriers to achievement…

29

Lack of parental support

Bad/insufficient career advice

Lack of support from teachers

Not knowing anybody who has achieved

what I want to achieve Lack of support from

social services

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)


Barriers due to lack of support…

30

Poor physical health or disability

Mental health issues like depression

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)


Health barriers…

31

Your own lack of determination/effort

Distraction by friends Getting a criminal

record

Failure to get good enough grades or

academic qualification

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)


‘Behavioural’ barriers…

32



A lack of suitable training, e.g.

apprenticeships

Getting into debt

Prejudice or discrimination

Lack of money

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)


Structural barriers…

33



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Dif

ficu

lty

of o

verc

omin

g ba

rrie

r (%

of

youn

g pe

ople

say

ing

‘dif

ficu

lt’

or ‘

very

dif

ficu

lt’

to o

verc

ome

barr

ier

deem

ed li

kely

)


The state of the economy is seen as a barrier by almost all young people

65% of young people are worried about a lack of opportunities for

them in Britain in the next ten years

“I feel slightly terrified about the future because everything in the country seems to be getting harder. I haven’t been able to find a job so I’ve had to do a paper round. Housing is so expensive, too.”

Young person, London

34

Some young people believe that they face more barriers than others…

35

We identified two groups at opposite ends of the spectrum:

3% 1% 1% 1%

2% 2%

4% 3%

7% 7% 7%

10% 10% 10%

9% 11%

6% 5%

17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Num

ber

of b

arri

ers

likel

y to

fac

e: Optimists

(22% of young people)

(25% of young people)

36

Optimists

“If I work hard enough, I’ll definitely get a job.”


30%

have parents who are involved

in politics

(Pessimists: 15%)

15% are privately

educated

(Pessimists: 4%)

Only

5% think their own lack of determination/effort is a likely

barrier

(74% of pessimists)

37

Pessimists “Prison might be a barrier - anything could happen. It’s not hard to go to prison… Some of my friends have been after doing something stupid.”

Young person, Leeds

59% don’t know anyone who works in their preferred

job.

(Optimists: 33%)

describe themselves as more practical than academic

(Optimists: 39%)

61% didn’t realise the impact their subject

choices aged 14 had on their career path

(Optimists: 28%)

53%

38

There are no differences between the two groups in terms of location, gender or ethnicity. Optimists are very slightly more middle class than Pessimists.

39

Their expectations differ significantly…

40

Optimists:

2% Pessimists:

64%

“Over the next ten years, I am likely to face mental health

issues such as depression”

41

Optimists:

88% Pessimists:

64%

“I will be able to cope with any barriers to

success that I meet.”

42

Optimists:

20% Pessimists:

55%

“University education is a luxury I can’t afford.”

43

Optimists:

5% Pessimists:

37%

“At some point in the next ten years, I will have to rely

on benefits to make life affordable”

44

Optimists:

12% Pessimists:

29%

“Working in the military is one of the best career options open to me.”

45

Optimists:

61% Pessimists:

59%

“I would prefer to work hard even if it pays less than I could get on benefits.”

“I would prefer to work hard even if it pays less than I could get on benefits.”

But their attitudes to work and other moral values are very similar…

46

… what do they feel can help them overcome these barriers and achieve their aspirations?

89% face two or

more barriers

47

They can’t count on career advice or other sources of skill development…

39%

of young people believe that bad or insufficient

career advice will be a barrier to

success

“My son didn’t have the right grades from school to get an apprenticeship. He wants to join the army and I’ve said no, I really don’t want him to. He’s just dropped out of college…”

Mum, Leeds

28%

of young people believe that a lack of suitable training opportunities like apprenticeships

will be a barrier to success

“I don’t know anyone older than me who

has a similar job to the one I

want who I can go to for advice”

45% 48

Political parties

36%

Don't know 47%

None of them 17%

16%

8%

5%

3%

3%

The answer isn’t politics… “I would vote if they stuck to their promises. Some of them tell lies to get in and some tell the truth – you can never really tell which is going to follow what they say.”

Young person, Leeds

Parties most likely to help young people achieve:

49

17%

14%

7%

2%

3%

Parents are positively cynical about politics

Political parties

44%

Don't know 21%

None of them 35%

Parties most likely to help young people achieve:

50

The answer isn’t politics…

“Most of the politicians are from middle class backgrounds and can’t really relate to people from working class backgrounds.”

Young person, Leeds

Recognition of ‘high-profile’ politicians is very low

72%

of parents

55%

of young people

“I believe it is the duty of every person over the age of 18 to vote at every election.”

51

The solution might not be found in the UK at all…

“There are more business opportunities in Africa and it has more economic growth. Violence and war there is ending so it will be safe in a few years.”


“I want to leave Coventry because it’s a boring small area with nothing to do and no opportunities. Everywhere’s shutting down.”

Young person, Coventry

believe that living and working abroad would improve my chances of living the life I would like 49%

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References Slide 2: •  http://metro.co.uk/2008/10/15/girls-just-want-to-be-famous-nowadays-says-minister-32268/ •  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9387824/Nicola-Benedetti-Todays-children-need-

culture-not-celebrity-obsession.html •  http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/396307/Youth-today-are-workshy-and-materialistic-says-

study •  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9842600/David-Cameron-children-

in-England-want-to-be-popstars-and-footballers.html

Slide 9 •  http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_286243.pdf

Slide 11 •  http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/nov/17/unemployment-and-employment-

statistics-economics

Slide 15 •  http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4867293/First-time-buyers-will-be-age-40-

before-they-can-afford-own-homes.html

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Full survey questionnaire and tables can be found online at www.britainthinks.com

a study on the aspirations and expectations of young...

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