Skills mismatch and weak training routes are limiting East Anglia’s young people and economic growth, write Burcu Sevde Selvi and Owen Garling.
This report, From School to Work: Tackling Skills Mismatch and Building Pathways for Young People in East Anglia, examines the persistent barriers young people face when transitioning from education into the workforce. The research highlights how skills mismatch — the misalignment between individual capabilities and employer needs — constrains productivity and widens regional inequalities.
While East Anglia is home to high-growth innovation hubs in Cambridge and Norwich, large parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Peterborough face lower educational attainment and limited technical pathways. The report identifies critical gaps, including a sharp decline in apprenticeship opportunities for under-19s, inconsistent Level 3–5 technical routes, and “invisible” skill gaps in problem-solving, communication and leadership. Geographical constraints, particularly housing and transport, further restrict young people’s access to high-growth sectors.
To unlock the region’s economic potential, the authors call for a long-term skills strategy that connects technical education with transport and housing as a single challenge rather than three separate ones. Key recommendations include strengthening pathways and careers guidance around age 16, making it easier for SMEs to engage in training, and planning beyond Level 3 to support higher-level technical and professional skills. Ultimately, the report argues that coordinated regional action is essential to ensure every young person can benefit from East Anglia’s innovation-led economy.
Read the news release: Skills mismatch threatens East Anglia’s economic potential, new report warns during National Productivity Week
Read the blog: Beyond the innovation core: solving East Anglia’s skills puzzle
