Apprenticeships, basic skills training, life skills training, mentoring/coaching, off-the-job training and on-the-job training

Summary report of the Network Meta-Analysis conducted for the Youth Employment Toolkit and supplementary qualitative and contextual findings on these interventions

This summary report presents findings from a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) that was commissioned as part of the development of the Youth Futures Foundation’s first Youth Employment Toolkit. It also includes some findings on process and implementation information for the interventions examined in the REA, and some contextual information.

The REA uses a network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess the effectiveness for improving youth employment outcomes of six common interventions that are used to increase employment rates (often in combination with other aims) for young people, in particular those facing marginalisation and disadvantage. It summarises evidence from evaluations conducted in high income countries (HICs) whose labour markets and economies are broadly similar to those of England (Youth Futures’ area of interest) and the wider UK.

The six outcomes examined are:

• Apprenticeships, where implemented as a targeted intervention to improve youth employment
• Basic skills training
• Life skills training
• Mentoring and/or coaching
• Off-the-job training
• On-the-job training