Young people's transition into work is becoming more challenging. Competition for entry-level roles is increasing, employers' expectations are evolving, and more young people face barriers to entering and remaining in work. At the same time, businesses across the UK continue to report skills shortages and productivity challenges.
Drawing on new polling of 3,000 UK adults and 200 qualitative interviews, the research explores how the experience of a person's first role after completing education is associated with later career outcomes. Across both graduate and non-graduate roles, it finds that good first jobs share common features: training, mentorship, supportive management and clear routes to progress - all of which can shape future opportunity and earnings.
"Getting more young people into work is critical but as important is giving them the confidence and skills to continue up the career ladder."
Marco Amitrano
Alliance Senior Partner, PwC UK & Middle East
Key findings
"Government and employers now need to rebuild the youth employment social contract, so that every young person can expect their first job to be a springboard rather than a dead end."
Dani Payne
Head of Education and Social Mobility at Social Market Foundation
Five first-job pathways
The research identifies five distinct first-job pathways, reflecting the extent to which early roles build confidence, skills and progression. Together, they provide a framework for understanding why some first jobs act as career accelerators while others leave young people with fewer opportunities to move forward.
Accelerator pathways
Providing strong support, training and progression
Stepping-stone pathways
Imperfect but still useful platforms
Comfort-trap pathways
Stable but limiting
Underemployment pathways
Where people feel overqualified or underused
Low-mobility roles
Offering little support or development
Read the full report
The research was led by the Social Market Foundation, a cross-party think tank whose work focuses on how markets and government can work together to benefit society.
The full report sets out the evidence, findings and recommendations in detail, including proposals for employers, government and education providers.
The First Rung
How the experience of a first job shapes what comes next
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