Millennials who chose an apprenticeship over university are just as happy with their lives

Twenty-somethings who pursued vocational training rather than university report being just as satisfied with their lives, according to new findings from Next Steps.

Researchers from the UCL Institute of Education and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine examined information on more than 9,500 members of Next Steps . They found that there was no ‘right way’ to transition into adult life. Instead, young people followed a range of viable paths after completing compulsory schooling at age 16.

When you finished school, 45 per cent of you went into higher education, and a similar proportion – 42 per cent –entered the labour market.

Just over a third of you moved quickly into work after finishing school, with some continuing their studies for a limited period of time before doing so. Roughly 6 per cent pursued vocational training before getting a job.

During the Age 20 Survey, you were asked how satisfied you were with how your lives had turned out so far. The researchers found no significant differences between those of you at university, those in apprenticeships or those in work.

Nearly 13 per cent of you spent prolonged periods of time not in education, employment or training (NEET) after finishing school. These study members were the least satisfied with their lives at age 20.

The authors suggested that work may offer an opportunity to feel valued, to belong and to make a contribution for young people who do not go to university. However, if young people struggle to find meaningful and challenging work, it can be detrimental to their wellbeing.

Among your generation, young people’s paths took a different turn if they faced multiple socioeconomic risks, including growing up in a family where the parents had little education, the gross household income was less than £10,400 per year, or where none of the parents were working.

At age 14, those of you facing the most risks had slightly lower expectations of going to university, and less confidence in their academic ability than those from more privileged backgrounds. These young people also tended to be less engaged with school at this age.

By the time you finished school, those of you from more disadvantaged families were more likely than to go straight into work, or to end up being NEET. Moreover, living in a deprived neighbourhood increased the likelihood of going into vocational training instead of higher education.

Interestingly, less advantaged  young people were at higher risk of being NEET if they felt they were very academically able. This was true regardless of how well they had actually done at school. The authors suggested this might point to a ‘dark’ side of high self-confidence for young people who struggle to overcome the constraints of their upbringing.

Young people from less privileged homes who had expected to apply to university tended to stay on at school at least for a short period of time after age 16, before ultimately going into work. The authors suggested that despite the young people’s academic aspirations, the pressure of their circumstances may have compelled them to get a job before pursuing a degree.

“It is encouraging that young people who find a viable career path after leaving school are just as happy with their lives regardless of whether they go on to university, an apprenticeship or work. This suggests there isn’t just one way to successfully transition into adulthood,” said Prof Ingrid Schoon, the study’s lead author.

“We must make sure that there are equal opportunities for young people who do not pursue higher education immediately after completing secondary education – this includes good quality vocational training and local labour market opportunities, particularly in the most deprived neighbourhoods.”