A growing crisis of low confidence among young people is threatening the future of the UK workforce, according to new research – and is quickly becoming a critical concern for businesses reliant on future talent pipelines.
The Listen Up Report from youth and education agency Hark has revealed that one in three young people lack confidence, a finding that should ring alarm bells for employers. The study found that around two million young people are entering adulthood without the confidence needed to navigate workplaces .
Victoria Millar, co-founder of Hark, said, “We all know that the least confident young people put themselves forward less, meaning they receive encouragement last, get overlooked for leadership roles, and miss out on development opportunities.”
She added, “What our research reveals is that confidence isn’t being built gradually by young people during school years, so they’re not thriving in higher education, apprenticeships and employment. This has massive implications for businesses, as these young people don’t have the skills to fuel the highly collaborative, creative and dynamic company cultures so vital in organisations today.”
Employability skills at risk as confidence declines
The report found a strong connection between confidence and employability skills. Low confidence was found to limit young people’s willingness to communicate or work collaboratively. Only seven percent of those with low confidence frequently expressed their views, and 67 percent reported never speaking with unfamiliar adults.
Such difficulties pose a risk for employers who require candidates with strong communication, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. While many young people demonstrate adequate academic ability, their lack of confidence prevents them from effectively applying these skills in professional environments.
Tom Jewell, VP of Customer at Zinc, said, “If organisations are going to scale back new hires while still maintaining productivity, especially in light of GenAI adoption, they’ll need to rethink what they value in candidates.”
He continued, “This sharp contraction in recruitment isn’t just about fewer jobs, it’s also about tougher competition and evolving expectations. We’re seeing candidates increasingly rely on AI tools to help write applications, cover letters and CVs. While this can help level the playing field, it also raises the risk of mismatched hires.
“For candidates navigating this tighter, AI-augmented job market, the takeaway is clear: success depends less on ticking boxes and more on demonstrating the kind of human value that no machine can replicate.”
Business-led action
Hark’s report also identified clear demographic differences in confidence levels. Young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to report low confidence, with 37 percent affected compared to 27 percent of their more advantaged peers.
Gender disparities were also evident. Thirty-four percent of girls reported low or no confidence, compared with 73 percent of boys who described themselves as confident. Hark found that almost half of confident girls concealed their confidence out of fear of being perceived as showing off.
Regional variations were marked as well. London had the highest reported confidence levels, with 87 percent of young people describing themselves as very or quite confident. In contrast, Northern Ireland, Wales and some parts of the Midlands reported significantly lower levels.
Hark’s report shows that confidence tends to fall as young people progress through secondary school. While 71 percent feel confident at age 11, this drops to 65 percent by age 16, just as they are entering employment or further education.
Millar said, “Confidence gaps aren’t personality traits; they’re broken social patterns shaping who gets seen and supported, and their impact on the workforce of tomorrow is very real.”
She added, “Hark’s Listen Up Report highlights an urgent need for businesses to step up to the plate and take action. Workplaces must play a crucial role by implementing initiatives that are more inclusive, celebrate all kinds of progress, and invest in the development of youth employability skills through education partnerships and community-led programmes. It’s up to businesses to listen to and empower future workers today.”
