One in three (31%) adolescents – the equivalent of two million future workers – struggle with little to no confidence, according to the latest ‘Listen Up Report’ from leading youth and education agency Hark. Based on a comprehensive survey of over 1,400 UK 11- to 18-year-olds from diverse backgrounds, the analysis highlights not only a growing social issue but also an impending risk that businesses must address to secure the future workforce.

The link between confidence and employability skills

The study reveals that across the UK, an average of 10 children in every classroom are struggling with low to no confidence. This finding highly correlates with variations in young people’s ability to communicate and collaborate with others. Alarmingly, Hark found that a mere 7% of non-confident youths frequently express their opinions, and 67% never speak to unfamiliar adults. Compared to their more confident peers, this unheard third is also less likely to engage in school, join in with group activities, or speak up, even when they have something to say.

Analysis indicates that this youth confidence crisis forces many young people into a difficult transition from education, and they enter the workforce lacking essential attributes valued by employers. Such employability skills include communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Imagine a bright, capable young graduate brimming with ideas, but too afraid to speak up in meetings or contribute to group projects. 

Shortages in skills, talent, innovation, and dynamism

The lack of these employability skills has very real implications and far-reaching consequences as they begin to enter the job market. Businesses are already grappling with the knock-on effects of a generation entering the workforce with low confidence.  Despite demonstrating the required levels of literacy and numeracy, as well as the necessary capabilities and capacities to develop technical skills, the lack of employability skills means that many young people struggle to navigate professional situations effectively.

Recent research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) discovered that almost 80% of employers believe that students lack the full skills necessary to arrive work-ready. It found that the areas young people need the most training are teamwork (58%), critical thinking and problem-solving (54%), and communication (52%). A 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) highlights the scale and impact of these issues.

It revealed that employers perceive young workers’ employability skills relatively negatively: one in two employers (52%) dispute that young people transitioning from education to work are well-prepared for the world of work. Over half (56%) think that young workers are more difficult to manage than previous generations. And the vast majority (64%) agree that young workers lack critical social skills.  

The general lack of employability skills causes a number of adverse impacts. Less diversity of thought, higher dropout rates, and vastly underdeveloped talent pools all restrict a business's ability to innovate in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive landscape. These findings, then, underscore a critical need for companies to bridge this confidence gap. With the right support, young people can develop these employability skills and drive organisational success.

“We all know that the least confident young people put themselves forward less, meaning they receive encouragement last, get overlooked for leadership roles, and miss out on development opportunities,” said Hark Co-Founder Victoria Millar. “What our research reveals is that confidence isn’t being built gradually by young people during school years, so they’re not thriving in higher education, apprenticeships and employment. This has massive implications for businesses, as these young people don’t have the skills to fuel the highly collaborative, creative and dynamic company cultures so vital in organisations today."

Confidence is not a personality trait; it’s a broken social pattern businesses can help fix

Factors including, but not limited to, the lingering effects of Covid-19, the strain of maintaining an ‘online persona’, the fear of judgement, and a lack of safe spaces for open self-expression are contributing to the youth confidence crisis. Young people most acutely feel such pressures during their teenage years as they find their identities and decide on their future paths.

The report identifies a key transition point where confidence noticeably declines. While 71% of young people feel confident at the start of secondary school at age 11, this drops to a low of 65% by the time they leave school to enter higher education, training or employment at age 16. This means more than a third (35%) begin their working lives feeling little to no confidence. This critical juncture presents an opportune time for future employers to intervene with supportive measures designed to build confidence and employability skills. 

“Confidence gaps aren’t personality traits; they’re broken social patterns shaping who gets seen and supported, and their impact on the workforce of tomorrow is very real,” added Millar. “Hark’s Listen Up Report highlights an urgent need for businesses to step up to the plate and take action. Workplaces must play a crucial role by implementing initiatives that are more inclusive, celebrate all kinds of progress, and invest in the development of youth employability skills through education partnerships and community-led programmes. It’s up to businesses to listen to and empower future workers today.”

Additional key findings

Those with little to no confidence are the least seen and the least heard. They do not put their ideas forward, refrain from social interaction, and remain silent, even when they have something valuable to say. This invisibility creates a vicious circle: the quieter they become, the more they withdraw into themselves, leading to further loss of confidence.

Further analysis reveals numerous disparities among demographic groups. Reminiscent of the widely reported adolescent mental health crisis, already disadvantaged groups disproportionately bear the brunt:

Regional differences: confidence levels are notably higher in London, where 87% of young people report feeling very or quite confident – the highest of any region surveyed. In contrast, young people in Northern Ireland (43%), Wales (41%), and parts of the Midlands (35%) are far more likely to report low or no confidence

Socioeconomic variations: a staggering 37% of those from lower socioeconomic groups report having little or no confidence, compared to just 27% of their more advantaged peers

Gender imbalances: more than a third (34%) of girls report little to no confidence compared to three-quarters (73%) of boys who say they are very or quite confident. Strikingly, even when girls do feel confident, almost half (44%) pretend not to be for fear of being perceived as showing off

While no single factor explains these differences, the data suggests a strong link between confidence levels, employability skills, and access to youth support and development opportunities. The crisis is not a problem that can be put off. It demands immediate action from businesses looking to secure the future of their workforces.