OECD Report on future talent

By the age of seven, children are already facing limits on their future aspirations in work, according to a report from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) international economics think tank.  Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's director of education and skills, says "talent is being wasted" because of ingrained stereotyping about social background, gender and race.

The report highlights that children have begun making assumptions about what type of people will enter different types of work while they are still in primary school and there are only "minimal changes" in attitudes towards career options between the ages of seven and 17.

The report, warns of the barriers to social mobility, saying too often young people consider only the jobs that are already familiar to them, from friends and family. Mr Schleicher is backing the Education and Employers' efforts to bring people from the world of work into schools, with the aim of widening access to the jobs market and raising aspirations.

Light-bulb moment

Young people need to hear about a wider range of jobs and employers and the intention is to create "light-bulb moments" where young people can see a possible new direction and hear from role models.  The most common influences are the occupations of people in their family, the jobs they see in the media and the type of work they see as most likely for people of their gender and background.  The findings show that in primary school, boys from wealthier homes are more likely to expect to become lawyers or managers while girls from deprived backgrounds are expecting to go into hairdressing or shop work. 

The report clearly warns of a mismatch between the limited range of aspirations and the changing demands of the jobs market.

If you or your employers want to help inspire young people (14-19) from Bromley to be more ambitious about their future, we can provide opportunities for you to do this.  Please contact us for more information on ebp.admin@bromley.gov.uk

From BBC News (Family & Education) on 15.10.19