Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
National Careers Service remains under-valued and under-utilised due to funding and awareness issues
Recommendation
The National Careers Service (NCS) is an under-valued and under-utilised resource. Due to a lack of funding and pressure to meet unhelpful targets, careers advisers often can’t spend enough time with people and have to focus on low impact interventions. There is also limited awareness of careers advice among Jobcentre staff and the public. The Government must address the current challenges faced by the NCS if it is to unlock the full economic potential of careers advice. (Conclusion, Paragraph 26)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government commits to preserving the distinct roles of careers advisers and fostering collaboration with work coaches within the new integrated service, retaining current qualification standards. It is exploring the development of a dedicated training pathway for careers advisers, with further details to be provided as the service design progresses.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 14 November 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this recommendation. Read the response document ↗