Channelling Motivations - Can optimism and motivation be developed through a self-reflective intervention? A multi-part intervention trial

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There has been a huge amount written lately on the issue of youth unemployment, whether that be graduates struggling to get jobs, or the rising number of those in the 'NEET' category - the focus of a major review by Alan Milburn.

In the face of this huge turbulence, there are clearly things that governments and firms need to do to create and sustain demand for good jobs. But - on the supply side - we believe that motivation is a critical but often overlooked component because it not only impacts attainment, health and happiness, but also supports the uptake of the key human-centric skills that we know employers are increasingly demanding as workplaces adopt AI.

Conducted in partnership with the EY Foundation, the Channelling Motivations project has focused on how to cultivate intrinsic motivation (doing things because they are enjoyable) and internal motivation (doing things because they fit one’s values and identity). Why? Because research - including our earlier Motivating Futures project - has shown that these are foundations for developing agency and autonomy, which are crucial for the core skills that good jobs need.

This Working Paper reports early findings from a brief, theory-based intervention designed to strengthen optimism, motivation and perceived work-related skills among young people taking part in EY Foundation employability skills and work experience programmes. It finds that short, structured reflective sessions of this kind could be a promising and practical addition to careers and employability programmes for young people from low-income backgrounds, and merit testing at greater scale through rigorous experimental designs aligned with current education and skills research priorities.

The full suite of outputs for this project can be found on our dedicated Channelling Motivations page.

“Many young people who are at risk of becoming NEET have the potential to thrive and are motivated to succeed, but they need support to channel their motivation towards a future of good work. These important reports show why we must look beyond narrow ‘skills fixes’ and recognise the role of motivation, self-belief and agency in helping young people navigate the transition from education into training and employment. A more reflective approach to careers guidance focused on nurturing young people’s motivations and passions would help them to access opportunities that are available - whether that’s training, apprenticeships or further learning and help ensure every young person has a fair chance to succeed.” - Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee

“Technology is rapidly changing the world of work, and it is vital that we intentionally construct equitable transitions for young people from school and training into careers. This brilliant research sets out a new architecture for these pathways. Also clear from this research is the critical driver of motivation, and its significant potential to help address the major challenge of supporting young people from low-income backgrounds into good work.” - Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, CEO of Stemettes

“We know young people are determined to succeed. Over more than eleven years of delivering programmes, I’ve seen the transformational impact when a young person from a low-income background is shown that careers they once felt were out of reach are possible for them. It is exciting to see this research translate those insights into a training model that could benefit young people everywhere.” - Lynne Peabody, CEO of the EY Foundation

“In the West Midlands, we recognise the urgent need to support our young people as they navigate the challenges of entering the workforce, especially in a time of rapid technological change. The early findings from the pilot intervention are encouraging, showing the potential of motivation-based training to improve outcomes for young people. As a pilot region for the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, we want to explore innovative and evidence-based solutions that enhance the support we provide, ensuring every young person has the chance to thrive in the changing labour market." - David Gaughan, Director of Employment and Skills at West Midlands Combined Authority