03 May 2026
Young people face unequal access to careers guidance
The Young Minds survey of 2,000 young people aged 18 to 25, supported by BDO, found that only around a third of them had access to a dedicated careers adviser at school or college, leading to them to turn to technology for careers advice.
AI tools, online searches and social media were rated as big influences on their career decisions by a majority of young people. Work experience is still ranked as the highest influence – as young people gain access to local employers – but this is split by income levels, with those from more advantaged backgrounds (who likely have more access to careers guidance) ranking the value of work experience higher than those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Accountancy firm BDO says the importance of work experience in making early career choices should be recognised by the government making the guidance on work experience mandatory, supported by an online employer-school matching platform, and calling for dedicated careers guidance for all young people with government funding and support.
Read more about the BDO Young Minds survey.
AI tools, online searches and social media were rated as big influences on their career decisions by a majority of young people. Work experience is still ranked as the highest influence – as young people gain access to local employers – but this is split by income levels, with those from more advantaged backgrounds (who likely have more access to careers guidance) ranking the value of work experience higher than those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Accountancy firm BDO says the importance of work experience in making early career choices should be recognised by the government making the guidance on work experience mandatory, supported by an online employer-school matching platform, and calling for dedicated careers guidance for all young people with government funding and support.
Read more about the BDO Young Minds survey.
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