Youth Voice Forum: Understanding motivation and employment barriers for young people

Nana
I applied to the Youth Voice Forum so I could collaborate with young people and stakeholders to advocate for changes to further social mobility. This motivation stems from my personal experiences of difficulty accessing opportunities.

Kyro
My motivation to apply for the Youth Voice Forum at The EY Foundation comes from my belief that young people should have a stronger voice in conversations about education, employment, and the future of work. Too often, decisions about young people are made without hearing directly from those with lived experience. I want to be part of a space where young people can share their perspectives, influence ideas, and help shape solutions that improve access to opportunities.

Thinking about your own journey, what has helped or hindered your motivation to learn and access opportunities?

Nana
A core factor that has shaped my motivation is knowing that I can always do better. Despite my neurodiversity and the minimal support to understand how it shaped various aspects of my life, my awareness of my ‘limitations’ encouraged me to look for opportunities that I wanted to experience. For example, I knew that I needed more insight before applying to highly selective universities, which motivated me to search for organisations and experiences that provided such knowledge. Similarly, my desire to gain work experience in research despite funding constraints led me to work with organisations that could support me.

Despite my intrinsic motivation and proactivity, I found that so many opportunities were not advertised well or well-known, which at times made them difficult to access. Consequently, some of the opportunities I had came by “word of mouth” which was not always reliable.

Kyro
Reflecting on my own journey, my motivation to learn has been influenced by both encouragement and barriers. Programmes such as The EY Foundation’s Smart Futures Business and Finance and Step into Business Programmes played an important role in building my confidence and helping me understand professional environments. Through the Business and Finance programme, I gained insight into the world of business, developed valuable skills, and explored career pathways that previously felt unfamiliar. After completing the internship, I was also given a mentor, which has been incredibly helpful in providing guidance and advice as I think about my future.

At the same time, barriers such as limited networks, lack of exposure to certain industries, and uncertainty about career pathways can make it harder for young people to stay motivated. When opportunities feel out of reach, it can lead young people to question whether those paths are available to them. Supportive programmes, mentors, and role models can make a significant difference by showing that these opportunities are possible.

What do you think policymakers often misunderstand about how young people experience motivation and employment barriers?

Nana
I think policymakers can underestimate the complexity of factors that influence motivation and access to employment opportunities. From my personal experiences and observations, having worked with young people excluded from mainstream education, I found that low income intertwined with various factors. Factors such as the impact of young people’s domestic lives, mental health, and how they make sense of their experiences are often overlooked when trying to understand motivation. When we look at motivation as something that is just inherent or unchanging in young people, we undermine the nuanced factors that shape it and how this relates to accessing employment opportunities.

Kyro
I believe policymakers sometimes misunderstand the challenges young people face. A lack of opportunity is often mistaken for a lack of motivation. Many young people are motivated but face barriers such as limited networks, fewer resources, or lack of guidance. Listening to young people’s experiences is essential in creating policies that truly support their success.

Read about our work on intrinsic motivation in boosting young people’s readiness for the future of work here.