One Million Voices

Finding and getting a job tops the list of concerns of young people across the globe, according to the latest worldwide YMCA research.

The One Million Voices report, released this week by the World Alliance of YMCAs, has found that more than three quarters of young people surveyed from YMCAs were currently having difficulty finding a job. In addition, four in five said they needed more information on job opportunities in order to find work and more than half felt they didn’t have enough work experience.

The YMCA research surveyed almost 18,000 15 to 24-year-olds from 55 different countries, including England, Ethiopia, Armenia and Australia. Questions covered a range of areas including employment, health and the perceptions of YMCA.

However, despite the vast array of countries involved, the message back was universal – young people consistently listed employment as their major worry.

In addition to concerns over available information and work experience, One Million Voices also found that:

  • Almost half of respondents said there weren’t enough jobs in their country.
  • Almost a third of respondents were worried their education didn’t reflect job market needs, preventing them from finding work.
  • More than half of respondents said they needed more specialised skills training in order to find a job.

Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England, the national council of YMCAs in England, said: “Despite the efforts of Governments around the world, this research shows that young people looking to enter the job market are still feeling the effects of the global economic crash.

“The research shows that the difficulties many young people face entering the job market are a symptom of a wider problem. Young people are too often cut off from decision makers and, as a result, their voice is not heard on those crucial issues that affect their lives, such as employment.

“Without a powerful youth voice, the likelihood is that the consequences of the ‘tough decisions’ that governments are making to stabilise the economy will fall hardest on the shoulders of the young.

“Through the One Million Voices research, YMCA is challenging this status quo by empowering young people to speak out about what they need to thrive. It is now the role of organisations like YMCA and governments across the world to listen and respond to what they are telling us.”

One Million Voices was put together by the World Alliance of YMCAs, the confederation of national councils of YMCAs around the world, which includes YMCA England.

In total, 364 YMCA clients from England and Wales inputted into the final results.

Read more about ‘One Million Voices’ here.

Ends

For more information or to request an interview with a YMCA representative, please contact Andrew Mortimer, Communications Manager, at andrew.mortimer@england.ymca.org.uk or call 020 7186 9543.

Notes to editors​

  • Founded in 1844, YMCA in England is made up of 114 member YMCAs working to ensure that young people have opportunities to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.
  • YMCA operates in over 530 different communities in England impacting upon the lives of over 600,000 people every year.
  • YMCAs provide almost 10,000 beds for young people every night. YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of safe, supported accommodation for young men and women.
  • YMCA enables nearly 43,000 people every year to engage in education, skills and training to enable them to improve their opportunities in the job market.
  • YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of health and wellbeing services promoting physical activity.