Quarter of young Scots scared they will fail in life, according to report

A quarter of young Scots say they are worried they will fail in life, according to a new report.

Youth charity The King’s Trust, previously known as The Prince’s Trust, unveiled the report – 50 Years of Working for Young People – as it marks its 50th anniversary as a charity.

The report says 59% of 16 to 25-year-olds displayed such fears, and 70% said they wish they were not starting their careers in the current economy.

Some 25% of young people said they believe they will fail in life, while 72% of youngsters said the economy gives them anxiety about their futures in employment, and 74% said they worry there will not be enough jobs for them.

More than a quarter (29%) said they would take on any job they can get to pay the bills, and 59% said they are worried about the impact artificial intelligence (AI) will have on future careers.

Some 70% of young Scots in the same age group said they believe they are capable of achieving their dreams, 79% said they want more opportunities to access training, and 56% said they would benefit from mentors or coaches to help them in their career.

The statistics were cited from a YouGov poll.

However, the report also noted the charity’s work has contributed £590 million of value to Scottish society over the last decade.

Louise Goodlad, director for The King’s Trust Scotland, said: “When The King’s Trust first began, it was responding to a generation of young people growing up with uncertainty about their futures.

“Today, the world may look very different, shaped by new technologies and changing industries, but for many young people that underlying fear has not gone away.

“Too many feel locked out of opportunities and unsure whether a secure future is really within their reach.

“This research gives voice to those concerns.

“It shows how deeply anxious young people are about work and what lies ahead, particularly those already facing the toughest barriers.

“By standing alongside young people now, helping them build skills, belief and resilience, we can open doors, break cycles of disadvantage and help the next generation of young people in Scotland to thrive.”

One teenager, named only as Danielle, had never worked before, and had stopped going to school.

She was introduced to TK Maxx’s partnership with the trust, who offered her a job, which she has now been in for five months.

She said: “When I first started, I thought I’ll never be able to do this.

“I had never had a job before and I wasn’t going to school.

“I thought I would last a week when I started but I ended up loving it and I’m so glad I kept going because I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.

“The whole job has saved me.

“If you’d seen me a year ago and then you saw me now, you wouldn’t believe I am the same person.

“I absolutely love the job and feel more confident since I’ve started working.”

The report says 61% of Scots feel unprepared for job market competition, and the same amount thought most entry level jobs available to their age group lack job security.

Some 22% said they lack the qualifications from school, and 26% say they do not have the work experience needed.

Jo Murphy, European corporate sustainability and sustainability director at TK Maxx, said: “Over 12 years of working alongside The King’s Trust, we have witnessed, first hand, young people begin to believe in themselves and take that significant first step into employment or further study.

“Through our partnership, more than 14,000 young people have been reached across established programmes such as Achieve and Get Into.

“As found in the report, an estimated £96 million of social value is attributed to our TK Maxx and Homesense partnership; the data is robust and persuasive, yet the measure that matters is a young person gaining confidence and a start in work or learning.

“As one of many partners, we are grateful to contribute in practical and meaningful ways.

“This partnership remains important to us because we believe every young person deserves the chance to build a secure and confident future.”

Ms Goodlad said: “As we celebrate 50 years having supported over a million young people to build a better future, The King’s Trust remains more determined than ever in realising our vision of ending youth unemployment, tackling inequality and ultimately, ensuring every young person has the chance to build a secure and fulfilling future.”