13th June 2023 Opening Doors to Opportunities

Social class and nepotism are impacting early career opportunities for young people, according to new research from KPMG UK.

Carried out ahead of Social Mobility Awareness Day on Thursday 15 June, the study of 2,000 adolescents found that those from low socio-economic backgrounds were less likely to have gained either formal or informal work experience. Two-fifths (40%) of those from low socio-economic backgrounds had gained exposure to the world of work, compared to around half (47%) of young people on average.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of those surveyed felt that certain professions – such as becoming a doctor or lawyer – are easier to get into if your parents or guardians also worked in a similar profession. And of those who obtained work experience, this was more commonly arranged via a family member or friend (45%), rather than via their school (32%).

When asked about accountancy specifically, nearly half (48%) of those surveyed thought the profession favours those with parents or guardians from a professional background – such as doctors, lawyers and accountants.

Jon Holt, Chief Executive at KPMG in the UK, said:

“So many young people face an unlevel playing field and it’s limiting their long term prospects. The reality is, without access to decent and fair work experience and someone to show you the ropes, it can be hard to break into some professions. And talented individuals are therefore being ruled out of the running for jobs, at a really early stage of their career.

“Businesses, including our own, need to play an active role to change this. If we want to nurture the talent of tomorrow, we need to open our doors and offer the opportunity to come and see inside our firm to learn what work is like. And to help the next generation succeed, we need to equip them with skills that are highly valued in the workplace, such as problem solving and creative thinking.”

Reflecting on her own career journey, Gabriella Falco, an apprentice at KPMG UK, said:

“I didn’t really have access to work experience or careers fairs growing up, but I was fortunate enough to stumble across a Women in Banking seminar, which really opened my eyes. Researching careers in finance, I came across KPMG and I was really interested in how the firm gives back to communities. As someone from a lower socio-economic background, I felt the firm’s values aligned with my own.

“Alongside my role in our People Consulting practice, I’m also a committee member of our social mobility employee network, UPbringing. The work I get to do is so rewarding, having such a big impact on the experience and opportunities of our colleagues from lower socio-economic backgrounds. I know it can seem daunting coming into a business like KPMG, but I hope we can help young people from all backgrounds feel excited and confident about the many career options available to them.”

Jenni Anderson, Acting CEO at The Talent Foundry said:

"Inequality of opportunity continues to have a devastating impact on young people in underserved communities. We meet so many students who have the talent and ambition to succeed, but not the opportunity to do so. That is why we are proud to be part of KPMG's Opening Doors to Opportunities programme which will help young people to find out what it is like to work in a firm like KPMG and highlight exciting career opportunities on their doorstep."

The firm has pledged to give one million young people the opportunity to build their skills by 2030. As part of this, KPMG will be opening its doors to younger people from areas of lower social mobility across the UK.