New research has laid bare the scale of public anxiety over youth unemployment in Wales, with a clear majority demanding more government action. The findings come as the King's Trust, the charity formerly known as The Prince's Trust, prepares to mark its half-century next year.
Public Concern and a Call for Collaboration
A YouGov poll commissioned by the King's Trust reveals that 71% of adults in Wales are concerned about youth unemployment. Furthermore, 61% believe the Welsh Government should be doing more to help young people into work.
The data, however, also points to a strong consensus on solutions. Voters across Wales expressed significant support for initiatives focused on skills training, apprenticeships, and job creation programmes.
"The public sees what I've seen and experienced first-hand," says Sarah Jones, the Director of the King's Trust in Wales. "With the right support, young people can thrive." Jones speaks from personal experience, having been supported by the Trust herself in the 1990s to pursue a tennis training opportunity in Florida.
The Stark Reality for Young People
The statistical backdrop to this public concern is alarming. Across the UK, almost a million young people are classified as NEET – not in education, employment, or training. In Wales, the situation is particularly acute, with NEET rates for 16 to 24-year-olds rising to 15.1%, a figure substantially higher than the UK-wide average.
Compounding the challenge, The King's Trust Youth Index 2025 found that one in three unemployed young people struggle with their mental health. More than half report lacking the skills or confidence needed to secure work.
Transforming Lives Through Practical Support
The power of targeted intervention is best illustrated through individual stories. David Tanase-Constantin from Cardiff spent years balancing caring responsibilities for his mother with trying to build a future, but without qualifications or direction, he felt stuck.
His trajectory changed after joining the King's Trust Get into Construction programme. Through hands-on training, he gained practical skills and industry-recognised qualifications, including his CSCS licence. With mentor support, his confidence grew. David is now employed in construction while simultaneously studying criminology at university.
"I never imagined I'd be balancing a job and university, but here I am," David said. "Working gives me real satisfaction, and I now look forward to my journey ahead."
A Unified Path Forward
Sarah Jones argues that solving the youth unemployment crisis cannot fall to government alone. It requires a proactive partnership between the public, private, and third sectors. The King's Trust itself works with a network of delivery partners in Wales, including Admiral, iungo Solutions, The Open University, and retailers like Marks and Spencer.
Jones points to the Welsh Government's Young Person's Guarantee as a positive demonstration of intent. "The next government must build on that foundation with greater investment, urgency, and ambition," she states.
With the charity's 50th anniversary on the horizon, the call is for renewed commitment. "This is the moment to ensure no young person is left behind, give employers confidence to invest in new talent, and to spread opportunity to every community in Wales," Jones concludes. "The time to act is now."
