Building the evidence on youth transitions

Our Evidence and Evaluation Manager, Katie Godfrey, explains why better data on youth transitions is so important.

As the What Works Centre for youth employment, we know tackling youth unemployment and inactivity requires an evidence-based, integrated approach – combining a strong universal offer for all young people, with targeted support for those facing the greatest barriers.

To do this effectively, we need a strong evidence base on the factors that influence young people’s employment, education, and training outcomes. One such factor is how young people engage with support as they move from education into work – or “youth transitions”. In this blog, we explore how better tracking and data sharing on youth transitions could help prevent the ‘cliff edge’ many young people experience when leaving education.

How data can support transitions from education into good work

When we think about “youth transitions”, milestones that come to mind might be moving to secondary school, completing GCSEs, and progressing into higher/further education, apprenticeships, or employment. In reality, the journey from childhood to adulthood is not always so straightforward.

Transitions can be fragmented, and shaped by personal, social, and economic factors. While some young people transition easily into work, others face disruptions that alter their paths. We need to understand how these young people “slip through the cracks” of administrative systems designed to support them. Without this insight, policies risk overlooking those who need support the most.

Why more research and evidence is needed

Current data systems are often fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to access. While we can track certain aspects of young people’s journeys, gaps in data limit our ability to evaluate what works to support them, design effective interventions, and target resources where they are most needed.

Recent Youth Futures research found fragmented systems and inconsistent access to joined-up data can limit the practical value of data tools developed to identify and support young people at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) – known as Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI) tools.

Three priority areas for action

To address these challenges, we are working with the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Educations (TASO) and the Administrative Data Research (ADR) UK to better understand what data exists, what is missing, and how different datasets can be connected to provide a fuller picture of young people’s experiences.

We’ve identified three priority themes requiring greater attention:

1. Place-based differences in youth outcomes

Where a young person lives strongly shapes their opportunities. Rates of youth unemployment and economic inactivity vary significantly across England, reflecting differences in local economies, infrastructure, and access to support. For some marginalised groups, provision can feel like a “postcode lottery” – uneven, short-term, and difficult to navigate. Understanding how place shapes transitions – and what works in different contexts – is essential for designing targeted, effective interventions.

2. Ethnic disparities in employment

Persistent inequalities in outcomes linked to ethnicity remain a critical issue. These gaps reflect a complex interplay of structural inequalities and labour market discrimination. Yet the data needed to fully understand these dynamics is often limited or insufficiently granular. Stronger evidence is needed to understand the drivers and support more equitable outcomes.

3. Overlapping barriers faced by marginalised groups

Some young people face particularly significant barriers during transitions, including those with experience of the care or criminal justice systems, or poor mental health. These challenges often overlap, compounding risk and making transitions even more difficult. However, data gaps limit our understanding of how these factors interact, and which interventions are most effective.

Building a stronger evidence base

Strengthening the data we use is key to moving beyond describing the problem, and towards designing effective policies and programmes grounded in robust data and the realities of young people’s lives. This includes addressing practical barriers to data access, improving governance, and better integrating systems to support earlier identification of those at risk.

Better data is not an end in itself, but a foundation for action. Done well, it can help create a more coherent system that supports young people through transitions and reduces the risk of anyone being left behind.