A national survey of youth workers has revealed the youth sector is under acute strain, as those working in the sector are responding to rising demand, yet hindered by barriers to professional development, resources and job security.
The Youth Sector Workforce Survey 2026, launched by the National Youth Agency (NYA) today, suggests that demand for youth work services has intensified sharply as the workforce is increasingly relied upon to provide targeted support for young people facing mental health problems, at risk of online harm, falling out of education, at risk of being engaged in crime and antisocial behaviour or vulnerable to exploitation.
Youth workers’ roles are pivotal to the delivery of the National Youth Strategy, which promised a decade‑long reset, for young people. It pledges to rebuild youth services after years of decline and ensure that 500,000 more young people have access to a trusted adult such as a youth worker by 2035, backed by commitments to invest in the youth workforce. Despite this, the data shows a precarious workforce under acute pressure.
The survey of more than 1,100 youth workers reveals:
- Only 41% feel secure about the future of their role
- Only two-thirds felt confident they would be working in the sector in a year’s time
- One in five youth workers do not have access to the resources they need to deliver effective youth work
- One in four were not sufficiently equipped to work with the increasingly complex needs of young people
- One in four earn less than the national living wage based on full-time equivalent roles
Despite these troubling findings, pride in the profession remains strikingly high, with 96% saying they were proud to be youth workers and 99% saying they feel they make a difference.
Viewed alongside the NYA’s National Youth Sector Census (2025) there remains a picture of the youth sector feeling the strain of increased demand alongside rising operating costs, particularly among the Voluntary sector which delivers 43% of all youth work.
The Workforce Survey highlights that youth workers are passionate about advocating for young people but would value more training in areas such as supporting young people with SEND, promoting personal and social development, digital skills, and online safety. Many organisations reported limited resources and an expanding reliance on staff without formal qualifications.
No respondents who have been in the sector for under three years had a professional youth work qualification, highlighting the need for a clear and accessible training pathway to attract people into the sector and support career progression. Just over half of respondents now hold a qualification at Level 6 or above, down markedly from previous years (65% in 2024). Only half of respondents are now in full‑time posts, and permanent contracts have dropped to two thirds of the workforce.
These shifts have come despite the launch of the National Youth Strategy that places growing emphasis on trusted adults and early intervention. The NYA warns of a widening gap between policy ambition and reality on the ground, with fewer qualified youth workers available just as expectations of the profession expand.
”“This survey paints a stark picture of a workforce that is deeply committed to young people but operating under increasing strain. Youth workers are supporting young people with more complex needs than ever before, yet many are doing so without the security, resources or training they need to sustain that work.
“If we are serious about early intervention, mental health support and violence prevention, we must be serious about the youth work workforce. That means recognising youth workers as essential professionals and backing them with long‑term investment, clear standards and secure career pathways. Without urgent action, we risk losing experienced practitioners at the very moment young people need them most.”
Leigh Middleton OBEChief Executive, National Youth Agency
The NYA has designed a workforce transformation strategy involving reform of the youth work qualification pathway; guidance for local authorities and the voluntary sector to design their services to meet local need; alongside efforts to unlock match funding and local philanthropy. Alongside this ten-year strategy it is calling upon the government to:
- Provide clarity on the £15m workforce investment pledged by the Government, how it will support training, especially for levels 1 to 3, ensuring voluntary and community sector organisations can access this support
- Promote greater recognition of youth workers as essential professionals within education, public health, employment and violence prevention strategies
- Expand training and apprenticeships to build a pipeline of qualified youth workers
- Introduce clearer sufficiency benchmarks enshrined within the Local Authority Statutory Duty to avoid a postcode lottery for young people who need the support of youth workers
The Workforce Survey findings are being launched today at the Annual Youth Work Conference co-delivered by the NYA with the Youth Endowment Fund, to an audience of decision makers, including keynote speaker, Natasha Irons, MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs.
The NYA is encouraging all youth work organisations to complete the National Youth Sector Census, helping to build an accurate national picture of provision and strengthen the case for investment in youth work.
