A new report by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has found that a substantial number of managers believe young people are leaving education without the practical skills needed to succeed at work. The study of 1,100 managers highlighted gaps in basic workplace behaviours such as punctuality and professional communication.
What managers are reporting
The CMI’s findings indicate that roughly half of hiring managers have met young employees who did not understand expectations around timeliness or how to communicate appropriately in a work setting. Around four in 10 managers said there was a clear mismatch between what education had taught recruits and the practical demands of the roles they were given.
| Measure | Reported rate |
|---|---|
| Managers encountering lack of punctuality/appropriate communication | 50% |
| Managers noting mismatch between education and job requirements | 40% |
Calls for practical routes into work
CMI policy officials said the solution is not to brand young people as "not work ready" but to expand opportunities that let them practise workplace skills. The institute promoted routes such as work experience placements, apprenticeships, mentoring and dedicated training designed to develop communication, responsiveness to feedback and resilience.
"Young people are putting their faith in education to prepare them for work, so finding out on day one that employers expect a different set of skills can be a rude awakening," the CMI's director of policy said.
The report also warned that addressing youth inactivity and building future talent requires not only preparing young people but ensuring managers and workplaces are equipped to support them.
Employer-led schemes and government initiatives
In a related development, supermarket chain Sainsbury’s announced it will provide work experience to about 10,000 young people, targeting those in disadvantaged areas. The scheme, which begins in October, will include workplace visits, career workshops and practical placements across England, Scotland and Wales. Organisers say the initiative forms part of a broader government effort to tackle youth unemployment.
Stakeholders from occupational safety bodies also weighed in. The vice-president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) commented that the findings arrive amid a wider skills shortage and recruitment difficulties, reinforcing the need for collaborative action between education providers and employers.
Implications for schools, colleges and employers
The CMI report raises questions for curriculum designers and post-16 providers about how to balance academic and technical knowledge with employability skills. It also places emphasis on employers to invest time and resources in onboarding, mentoring and training to help new recruits transition into work. Practical contact with workplaces — whether through short placements, industry projects or simulated tasks — was highlighted as particularly valuable.
- Expand access to paid and unpaid work experience, especially in disadvantaged areas.
- Increase employer-led mentoring and structured apprenticeship opportunities.
- Train line managers to support and develop young recruits effectively.
The report does not attribute blame to any single part of the system, instead urging shared responsibility: schools and colleges to embed practical skills where possible, and employers to create supportive, educational workplaces. The aim, advocates say, is to reduce the mismatch between qualifications and the realities of entry-level jobs so young people can build careers with confidence.
