Harnessing young talent pipelines in a digital world
The Business Barometer is The Open University’s flagship report on the employer skills landscape in the UK.
This year, alongside the employer survey on skills gaps and training, we have surveyed young people outside education, employment or training who could potentially fill these shortages with more support.
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What you need to know
- 57% of UK employers face skills shortages
- 51% say AI is changing how they hire
- 19% are reducing entry-level recruitment
- 42% agree that their decrease in early-career recruitment is a result of a wider use of AI
At the same time:
- 70% of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) want to upskill to boost their careers
- Only 6% want to remain out of work, training or education
There’s a clear disconnect — and a major opportunity
Why it matters
Employers are under pressure from economic uncertainty and rapid AI adoption is creating challenges and opportunities.
But fewer entry-level roles mean fewer pathways into work — and weaker future talent pipelines.
