LONDON, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Young people entering the workplace dramatically overestimate their workplace readiness compared with the views of their managers, according to a landmark new report from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), published to mark Youth Employment Week.
The report found that while almost half (45%) of 18 to 24-year-olds believe they entered the workforce equipped with the skills needed to succeed, just 6% of UK managers say young recruits demonstrate those skills to the same extent.
In response, CMI is calling for government, educators and employers to work together to bridge a worrying divide - by not just better preparing young people for work, but also by investing in training the managers charged with helping them to both stay in work and to find a route to promotion.
Drawing on research with more than 1,000 UK managers, a nationally representative YouGov poll of 514 young people, and interviews and focus groups with young people, the report found that more than six in ten (61%) believe younger workers are more likely than other age groups to lack resilience, professionalism, communication skills and the ability to accept and act on feedback.
Worryingly, more than nine in ten (91%) say the gap is negatively affecting performance across their workforce. Just one in 10 managers (12%) say that young people in their organisation are progressing as expected.
When they fail to progress or do not pass their probation, managers cite a lack of motivation (40%), a lack of resilience (38%), poor workplace behaviour or etiquette (34%) and poor time-keeping (32%) as the most common causes.
The report argues employers must also do more to support those in the key early career phase, with almost nine in ten (86%) young employees saying it was important that line managers receive training to support people at the start of their careers, while almost nine in ten (89%) managers who have received management training say it has improved their ability to develop younger employees.
However, the research also challenges the perception that young people lack ambition. Almost two-thirds (64%) want to progress into management or leadership roles, while more than eight in ten (83%) say they would feel much more confident stepping into leadership positions if they had access to a formal mentor or professional body.
Signalling a level of self-awareness, almost eight in ten (78%) believe their education focused too heavily on academic theory rather than the practical skills needed to succeed at work.
Previous CMI research has also found that more than eight in ten (82%) managers are "accidental managers", promoted without formal management training.
Ann Francke OBE, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said:
"We've spent years asking whether young people are ready for work. It's time we started asking whether work is ready for young people. Too many young people are leaving education with ambition, talent and potential, only to discover they haven't been prepared for the realities of the workplace, and that the managers responsible for supporting them haven't been equipped either.
"If we want to tackle youth unemployment, improve productivity and build the next generation of leaders, we need to stop treating workplace readiness as somebody else's problem. Government, educators and employers all have a part to play."
Notes to Editors
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The findings referenced are based on a YouGov survey commissioned by CMI of 514 young people aged 18-24 in the UK, as well as other CMI Managers' Voice Polls consisting of over 1000 managers per survey. Research was conducted between 27 May and 3 June 2026.
CMI is uniquely positioned to support both young people and the managers tasked with integrating them successfully into work. Building on these findings, CMI has specifically designed its Future Leaders suite of tools to support both early career confidence and managerial success for new recruits:
- Leadership Essentials: Designed for those who are not yet in work, but may be studying or on an apprenticeship. This programme focuses on demystifying the workplace, translating academic theory into practical skills and helping them feel confident and ready before they step into their first role, thereby reducing the future onboarding burden for employers.
- Aspiring Leaders: Designed for those already in their formative years in the workplace, such as apprentices or recent entrants. This programme boosts existing skills, helping them to map out their career trajectory, build resilience and gain the confidence to take on more responsibilities without needing constant managerial intervention.
- First-Line Management Programme provides the support that younger workers taking their first steps into managing others need to thrive in their early career. The programme focuses on bridging the gap between individual contribution and team supervision and covers personal and team effectiveness, managing performance and conflict and a management impact project. Delivered via three masterclasses it also leads to CMI's Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status upon completion. This puts learners on a path to becoming Chartered and signals to them that their employer is invested in their future success.
