New research on youth employability by Demos shows Scouts makes a positive impact
The report shows that young people who take part in extracurricular activities, such as Scouts, feel much more prepared for the world of work, and are gaining the skills that employers want right now.
Today, we’re excited about the launch of new research from Demos (the UK’s leading independent cross party think tank) supported by Scouts.
The Employability Badge report is about addressing and understanding the challenge of youth unemployment. It explores how extracurricular activities can give young people the skills and experiences they need to start work and progress in their careers.
In particular, it looks at how Scouts can help young people build strong relationships and social experience, and how young people can develop the skills and attributes employers value the most.
The report shows that young people who take part in extracurricular activities feel much more prepared for the world of work, and are gaining the skills (particularly the transferable skills) that employers want right now. Gaining these skills will protect young people’s employability for the jobs of the future, as artificial intelligence (AI) and green jobs come to the fore.
Key findings
- 53% of those who were in Scouts felt prepared to start work for the first time, compared to 37% people who didn’t take part in any extracurricular activities.
- 78% of full-time employed people say extracurricular activities had a big impact on their lives, compared to 62% of unemployed people.
- Young people who were in Scouts are gaining the skills employers most value, with more than half saying the teamwork and leadership skills they learned in Scouts have helped in their careers.