What Meaningful Work Really Means to Young People
When we think about young people and work, it’s easy to get caught up in headlines about job shortages, skills gaps, or casual work. But the world YMCA has been digging deeper.
In collaboration with the Y Australia, Deloitte and ServiceNow, the world YMCA spoke directly to over 10,000 young people aged 18–35 across 120 countries in 2023 to ask one simple but powerful question: What does meaningful work actually mean to the next generation?
The results are eye-opening, inspiring, and a reminder that work today is about far more than a paycheck.
What the Research Found
Young people around the world are craving work that feels purposeful, fair and impactful. They want jobs that help them grow, make a difference, and support their wellbeing, not just roles that pay the bills.
Yet, many face barriers to finding or creating that kind of work.
According to the Deloitte-YMCA Youth Meaningful Work Survey:
1 in 5 young people are not in employment, education or training.
4 in 10 don’t have the right skills, qualifications or experiences to enter work or start a business.
Only 44% have more than basic digital skills, while 12% report having none at all.
The lack of investment in creating education and work opportunities for young people could cost the global economy $83 trillion by 2030.
Add to that the weight of what the YMCA calls the “Four Cs” COVID-19, conflict, climate change and the cost of living and it’s clear that young people are carrying a lot.
But even amid uncertainty, there’s one message they’ve made clear: they want work that matters.
The 12 Standards of Meaningful Work
To make sense of what “meaningful work” truly looks like, the world YMCA developed a 12-standard framework, grouped into three tiers:
Foundational: Healthy, ethical, inclusive
Strengthening: Growth, balanced, co-produced
Transformative: Purposeful, connected, sustainable
These standards aren’t abstract ideas. They’re a roadmap for employers, educators and policymakers to help young people access work that supports both their personal and professional growth.
Why It Matters
The world YMCA’s findings paint a powerful picture and at Y Careers, we see it every day. Young people aren’t just entering the workforce; they’re shaping it. They’re asking for fairness, purpose and a voice in how work looks and feels.
When organisations listen, everyone benefits. Workplaces become more inclusive, people stay longer, and communities thrive.
Meaningful work isn’t just good for young people , it’s good for the future.
Want to dive deeper?
Explore the full YMCA and Deloitte report here