More than a third of students report a lack of careers advice at schools and colleges across the UK, new research shows.

A report released today by charity Education and Employers reveals that less than half of young people aged 14 to 18 (47 per cent) feel they have received adequate career guidance as part of the education system.

It adds that rolling out “simple improvements”, such an increased number of careers talks by employers in schools, has the potential to enhance the lives of over 100,000 young people leaving secondary education each year.

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Of the more than 7,000 pupils who took part in the survey, 35 per cent answered “not at all” or “not really” to the question: “Do you think your school/college has spent enough time helping you to understand future career options and pathways?”

Concerns over careers advice

A further 17 per cent said they weren’t sure how to answer, while 36 per cent said they “somewhat” agreed with the statement, and just 11 per cent thought they “definitely” received adequate support.

The report adds: “Very few 17- and 18-year-olds describe careers advisers as an influence on their career choice (10 per cent) and similarly few say they have heard a visiting speaker (11 per cent).

“With other research identifying the social and economic benefits of improved careers provision and engaging with employers, this data reinforces the missed opportunity of providing these activities at sufficient scale, quality, personalisation and integration into the curriculum to drive impact.”

Yesterday it was revealed that more than a third of pupils are missing out on work experience while at secondary school.

A report from the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) says that just 63 per cent of young people have gained workplace experience by the time they finish Year 11, and one in five (18 per cent) are missing out on yearly “employment encounters” such as mentoring and enterprise schemes.