Key Takeaways
- Former industrial communities in Britain are facing "entrenched disadvantages" due to decades of economic decline
- The number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) is rising, with one in seven 16-24-year-olds affected between 2022 and 2024
- Regional differences in conditions of childhood, job opportunities, innovation, and growth are significant, with some areas experiencing "half a century of economic disadvantage and decline"
- Certain areas, such as Aberdeen, Brighton, and Manchester, have been identified as "beacons of hope" with favourable conditions for future innovation and growth
- The UK has similar job mobility rates to other big western European countries, but women from less well-off backgrounds continue to face barriers in accessing higher-paid jobs
Introduction to Social Mobility Challenges
The latest social mobility research has highlighted the significant challenges facing former industrial communities across Britain. The Social Mobility Commission’s state of the nation report has identified "entrenched disadvantages" stretching back decades, which are having a profound impact on the lives of young people. The report notes that one in seven young people aged 16-24 are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), which is a significant concern. This issue is particularly pronounced in areas such as Yorkshire, the north-east, the Midlands, Wales, and Scotland, which are still living with the impacts of deindustrialisation.
Regional Disparities and Economic Decline
The report highlights "extreme regional differences" in conditions of childhood, job opportunities, innovation, and growth. Certain areas, such as Aberdeen, Brighton, Bristol, Cheshire West and Chester, Edinburgh, Oxfordshire, Reading, West Berkshire, and Manchester, have been identified as "beacons of hope" with favourable conditions for future innovation and growth. However, other areas are experiencing "half a century of economic disadvantage and decline", which is having a profound impact on the lives of residents. The commission’s chair, Alun Francis, notes that economic opportunities have become "over-concentrated" in specific places, leaving entire communities behind.
Social Mobility and Job Opportunities
Despite some positive signs, the report notes that the percentage of younger people getting good jobs has grown, with 48.2% of 25- to 29-year-olds in professional careers as of 2022-24, compared with 36.1% in 2014-16. However, there is a widening gap between those from privileged and those from working-class backgrounds who are getting these jobs. Women from less well-off backgrounds also continue to find it harder to get higher-paid jobs than more privileged women. The report notes that the UK has similar job mobility rates to other big western European countries, such as Germany and Sweden, which have had fewer people moving on to better jobs as the growth in professional roles has slowed down.
Defining Success and Social Class
The report also explores what success looks like for people living in Britain today. The commission presented evidence to parliament last week, which found that people place less value on professional or managerial occupations, or even earning a high income, than they do on work-life balance, job security, and doing work they care about. The measures that people regard as the most important are health, physical and mental wellbeing, relationships with family and friends, education, and social connection. Owning a home and having savings was also valued by respondents, who said they did not believe that life in the UK was "fair". The report also found that people considered class identity to be "sticky", with more than three in four describing themselves as the same class as their parents.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The Social Mobility Commission’s report highlights the significant challenges facing former industrial communities across Britain. The report notes that economic opportunities have become "over-concentrated" in specific places, leaving entire communities behind. The commission’s chair, Alun Francis, notes that this is the "defining social mobility challenge of our generation". The report makes several recommendations, including the need to address regional disparities and promote innovation and growth in areas that are experiencing decline. It also highlights the need to support women from less well-off backgrounds in accessing higher-paid jobs and to promote social mobility and job opportunities for all. Ultimately, the report concludes that success is not just about earning a high income or achieving a professional occupation, but about achieving a good work-life balance, job security, and doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling.