1 in 3 young people lack confidence - here’s why it matters for business

A new nationwide study by youth and education agency Hark reveals a stark truth: up to 10 young people in every classroom suffer from little or no confidence. That’s one in three adolescents - what the Listen Up Report calls the “unheard third.” 

These young people are not speaking up in class, not taking part in clubs, not sharing their opinions - not because they have nothing to say, but because they don’t believe in themselves. 

This is more than an education challenge. It’s a systemic issue - with real consequences for equity, opportunity, and business. 

The confidence gap: what the data tells us 

Hark’s Listen Up Report surveyed over 1,400 young people aged 11 to 18 across the UK. It found that: 

• 1 in 3 young people say they have little or no confidence 

• At age 16, confidence drops to its lowest point - with 35% reporting little or no confidence 

• While London reports the highest confidence levels (87%), areas such as Northern Ireland (43%), Wales (41%), and the Midlands (35%) are far more likely to report low or no confidence 

• Only 7% of non-confident youth regularly express their opinions, and 67% never speak to unfamiliar adults 

The result? A generation of talent entering the workforce with underdeveloped soft skills, low self-belief, and limited visibility - often overlooked before they’ve even had a chance. 

What’s causing the crisis? 

As the report notes, many students in the education system today are experiencing a confidence crisis. This may be attributed to a combination of factors, including but not limited to the lingering impact of Covid-19, the pressure to maintain an ‘online persona’, the fear of judgment, particularly for girls and minority groups, and a lack of emotionally safe spaces to speak openly. Such pressures are most acute during adolescence, when young people are shaping their identities and future paths. 

Why should businesses care? 

Because confidence determines who applies, who shows up, who interviews well, and who feels empowered to contribute. 

Right now, many of the initiatives businesses run - from outreach to early careers to CSR programmes - risk reinforcing the divide. They attract the most confident, the most visible, and the most supported. That means we’re missing the quiet talent, and narrowing the diversity of ideas, voices and perspectives in our future workforce. 

How this links to our work at Hark 

At Hark, we’ve spent more than 30 years helping businesses connect meaningfully with young people - not just through one-off campaigns, but by co-creating learning experiences that build skills, shift mindsets, and create long-term impact. 

We work with clients who understand that confidence is a foundational skill - and that supporting it isn’t just good for young people, it’s good for business. 

From designing confidence-first employability programmes, to embedding youth voice in purpose strategy, we help brands move from ‘talking to’ young people to partnering with them. 

What needs to happen next 

If you’re working in communications, marketing, HR or ESG - here’s how you can help: 

• Listen louder: Are your campaigns and programmes designed to reach only the most confident? 

• Change what potential looks like: Talent isn’t always loud. Rethink how you spot and support future stars. 

• Partner with purpose: Work with education and youth organisations that understand how to nurture confidence and inclusion. 

• Invest early: The earlier we support confidence, the bigger the long-term impact - for young people, and for the economy. 

Confidence shapes futures. It shapes voices, choices, and the paths young people take - or don’t take. And right now, too many of those paths are closing before they even begin. 

Let’s change that. 

Read the full report: https://harklondon.com/listen-up 

About Hark: 
Hark is an education and youth agency helping organisations connect with the next generation in meaningful, measurable ways. From research and strategy to content and community programmes, to marketing and communications, we design experiences that empower young people and unlock long-term impact for business.