Introduction. Amid a worsening public sector crisis and significant skills shortages across key sectors in the UK, hopes of many professions and organisations rested on today’s announcements by the Chancellor. Within the budget, only 8 specific mentions of skills were made. Examples include ensuring the NHS workforce has the necessary skills to train an additional 6,000 midwives and double the number of clinical staff. Additionally, there is a plan to double the size of the AI incubator team to attract top technology professionals to enhance public sector and AI services. Moreover, £3m is committed to matching industry-led funding for a skills and education program to attract more people to roles as local planners in planning authorities. Finally, tax-deductibility of training and skills development costs for sole traders and the self-employed was also mentioned.It’s imperative to acknowledge the tireless efforts of career advisers and teachers who, despite many daunting challenges, persist in offering vital career support to young people and adults, especially those most vulnerable. To tackle skills shortages, citizens need easy access to career guidance and signposting to suitable opportunities.The Decline of Career Advisers and the Central Focus on Teachers. Over the last decade, career advisers in England (professionally trained and qualified) have significantly diminished in numbers. There is evidence of lower salaries, precarious contracts (e.g., short-term, term-time only) and people leaving the profession (Careers England, 2022). The irony is that if ever there was a time when career advisers were needed in local communities, the time is now! Teachers have become the central focus of efforts to develop careers in schools. Teacher training has been funded/supported by the Career and Enterprise Company (CEC) with a £1,000 grant to schools that complete Careers Leader accredited or non-accredited training, but no funding has been made available to schools for pay for impartial careers advisers’ salaries. A new OECD report 2024, highlights PISA data that shows across the OECD it is more common for students who attend schools with fellow students from high socio-economic status backgrounds to have access to career counsellors within their school. Dr Chris Percy, a highly respected economist, shows that at a typical direct cost of £80 per young person for two interviews during secondary education, career guidance (reframed as personal guidance by the Gatsby Foundation) is highly likely to be a net positive investment for the Exchequer. Using valuations by government-commissioned studies, breakeven is achieved if – for instance – one in 500 secondary school students were prevented from becoming NEET before the age of 18 or one in 1800 were prevented from dropping out of Higher Education. Resources, AI, and the Challenges of Changing Careers. During National Careers Week, organisations like BBC Bitesize Careers along with many others are providing valuable resources to inspire young people. These resources help them learn from others and find opportunities that align with their talents, interests and skills. Advances are also being made in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support career exploration 24:7. Today, the stark reality is a third of adults (34%) want to change careers (Learning & Work Institute), yet only 16% of respondents understand exactly how their skills would be useful in another career. Many people lack the confidence and ‘know-how’ when it comes to changing careers. On a recent 10-day holiday, three people without any prompt shared their stories of how (i) they hate their job; (ii) they are worried about their children in their mid-twenties trapped in low-paid work, despite having obtained a higher education degree; and (iii) the mental health and wellbeing of individuals in their families who are struggling to find well-paid work are of major concern. Does this resonate with you? The Impo...

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