The Prince’s Trust, in collaboration with Solutions Research and supported by Cognizant, has released a new report highlighting a growing ‘digital skills crisis’ among UK youth.

According to the findings, over one-third (37 per cent) of young people are concerned they lack the digital skills necessary for securing a good job. Additionally, more than two in five (41 per cent) feel uncertain about which skills to develop for their future careers.

The report, titled Decoding The Digital Skills Gap, exposes how limited knowledge, exposure, and access to digital skills training are hindering young people from pursuing relevant careers. This lack of digital confidence is especially pronounced among those already disadvantaged, such as individuals not in employment, education, or training (NEET) and those with limited internet access.

Lindsey Wright, Head of Future Sectors at The Prince’s Trust, remarked: “This research paints a bleak picture of a growing digital skills crisis, suggesting young people are not being equipped with the right knowledge, confidence, or opportunities to pursue digitally enabled jobs or training. As the employment landscape rapidly changes around them, we risk locking young people out of our economy and from pursuing their aspirations, while also failing to benefit from all that a rapidly growing, technology-led economy provides.”

The comprehensive study, which involved a nationally representative survey of 2,001 young people aged 16-30 and 20 focus groups across the UK, reveals that 37 per cent of young people are not studying digital or tech subjects beyond Key Stage 3. NEET young people are more likely to miss out on relevant studies (43 per cent versus 34 per cent), with many reporting that these subjects were either not offered or not encouraged.