Parents neglecting children’s digital potential despite jobs boom

Parents could be stopping their children benefiting from the digital jobs boom by giving them poor careers advice, claims Bubble Jobs.

The statement comes after an O2 study released yesterday found that 1 in 10 parents would “actively discourage” their children from a career in the digital sector.

According to the study, 23% of the 2,000 parents interviewed deemed key skills like web design and coding to be “irrelevant”, despite the burgeoning need for digital talent in the UK.

The survey results come just a few months before changes to the national curriculum come into effect which will see more of an emphasis placed on digital skills.

Bubble Jobs Managing Director Adam Butwilowski said: “We’re disappointed by the results of the survey because it suggests that parents have a real lack of knowledge and enthusiasm about the digital industry and the genuine, long term career opportunities the sector could offer their children.

“There’s an overwhelming number of opportunities in the industry right now from careers with major brand names to exciting opportunities with entrepreneurial start-ups.

“A lot of young Brits today are ‘digital natives’ – they’re growing up with key digital skills that employers are looking for – so it would be a real shame if they missed out due to a lack of support or guidance from their parents.”