TSR Asks: Are Year 11s thinking about their future careers?
Methodology: Quantitative online survey
Year 11 students in the UK, aged 16+
Base: 666 responses (fieldwork: 6th –25th March 2023)
Do Year 11s have the information they need to make decisions about their futures?
We surveyed students about their future plans and careers in the Spring term of Year 11. Around four fifths (81%) felt informed enough to make a decision about their next steps after GCSEs. Many were also thinking further down the line, with the same proportion (81%) saying they had or had maybe decided about their chosen career.
Q: Do you feel you have enough information to make a decision about what to do next, after your GCSEs / National 5s? (Single response)
81% felt that they had enough information
Q: Have you decided on your future career path? (Single response)
How they decide on their future careers?
Almost all respondents (94%) had some idea about how they would choose their future career path. Most commonly, participants would consider their skills and qualifications to choose the right path for them (64%). More than half (54%) would explore future careers by speaking to their parent(s) or carer(s). Around two‐fifths would seek external support through speaking to careers advisors, teachers or reading online job profiles.
Q: How did you decided / will you decide on your chosen career path? Please select all that apply (Multiple response)
Considering my skills and qualifications
Speaking to my parent(s)/carer(s)
Speaking to a careers advisor
Reading job profiles online
Speaking to my teachers/lecturers
Search for available vacancies
Other
I don't know yet
Got questions? For further information, to find out how we can meet your research needs or to ask your questions to a Year 11 audience, please contact us: hello@tsrinsight.com
What are Year 11s looking for in their future careers?
High salary was a priority to more than three fifths (62%). Good work life balance (49%) was important to almost half and there was also a desire to have a positive impact for example by making a difference to society (39%) or having a sense of purpose in their future role (38%).
Q: What are you looking for in your ideal career? Please select up to three (Multiple response –top five shown)
38%
Sense of purpose / aligned with values
Are they prepared to enter the workforce?
Overall, more than two fifths (43%) of Year 11 respondents already felt prepared to enter the workforce, although just 5% felt very prepared.
Q: How prepared to do you feel for entering the workforce? (Single response)
Net: not at all + not very prepared: 30%
Net: quite + very prepared: 43%
Got questions? For further information, to find out how we can meet your research needs or to ask your questions to a Year 11 audience, please contact us: hello@tsrinsight.com
