Care Leavers in England 'Locked Out' of Employment as Companies Slow to Adapt Hiring Practices
A recent survey by the Drive Forward Foundation has highlighted a critical issue in the UK job market: thousands of young people leaving care in England are being systematically excluded from employment opportunities. The charity warns that while many employers express openness to hiring care-experienced individuals, few have made necessary adjustments to their recruitment processes to accommodate non-linear work histories or gaps in CVs.
Stubborn Employment Gap Persists Despite Government Initiatives
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, a staggering 40% of care-experienced people aged 19 to 21 are not in employment, education, or training (Neet). This contrasts sharply with the 12.7% rate among their non-care-experienced peers. The overall number of 16- to 24-year-olds classified as Neet has surged to nearly 1 million across the UK, marking the highest level in over a decade.
Despite government efforts to address youth unemployment, including a £1bn youth employment scheme announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, the employment gap for care leavers remains stubbornly consistent. This scheme offers companies a £3,000 grant for hiring benefits claimants aged 18 to 24 who have been job-seeking for at least six months, alongside measures to slow minimum wage increases for younger workers.
Employer Willingness Not Matched by Action
The Drive Forward Foundation's survey of 500 employers revealed a significant disconnect between intent and implementation. Over 80% of respondents stated they would consider hiring care-experienced young people, yet almost half admitted they never adjust job descriptions or recruitment language to remove barriers. One in four reported having no specific measures to support these candidates.
Russell Winnard, Chief Executive of the Drive Forward Foundation, emphasized the problem: Care-experienced young people are often assessed against assumptions that simply don’t reflect their lived reality. When recruitment systems aren’t designed with this in mind, capable and motivated people are screened out before they ever get a chance.
Charity Calls for Practical Changes and Offers Support
In response to these findings, the charity is publishing a new toolkit to assist employers in improving access to work for care leavers. Drive Forward has established partnerships with more than 40 employers, including John Lewis, Camden Council, and the Civil Service, who are actively working to employ care-experienced young people.
Winnard noted that employers who adapt their practices often see strong results. When businesses take a more flexible and informed approach, they don’t just change outcomes for young people – they strengthen their own workforce.
Government Response and Future Outlook
A government spokesperson reiterated commitments to supporting young people, citing targeted measures for care leavers such as higher housing allowance rates and tailored Jobcentre Plus support. The broader £2.5bn support package aims to create up to 500,000 opportunities for earning and learning, benefiting almost 1 million young people.
However, the persistent challenges highlighted by the Drive Forward Foundation underscore the need for more proactive changes in recruitment practices to truly integrate care leavers into the workforce and reduce the widening employment gap.
