New studies: Illness reduces young people's chances of education and employment
Nearly one in four young people with a serious physical illness do not complete any education beyond primary school. That is almost twice as many as in the general population. Many face barriers within the education system, but they have ambitions just like anyone else, according to new studies in which young people offer five key recommendations.
Young people with chronic and serious physical illnesses dream of a life with education and employment, just like most others. Yet, they fare significantly worse in the education system than their peers, and many end up on social welfare, early retirement, and with much lower personal income in adulthood compared to their peers.
This is shown by studies from Rambøll and Maple in the Egmont Foundation's new Egmont Insights, which also points to the potential for more young people with chronic illnesses to complete upper secondary education. Nearly one in eleven young people—approximately 73,000—between the ages of 12 and 24 have encountered a chronic or serious illness, according to Rambøll's study, which examined young people between the ages of 12 and 30 and their paths through school, education, and work.
“As a society, we should support young people's educational ambitions and break down the barriers they encounter along the way. The young people themselves call for being met with positive expectations and a more flexible education system that can better accommodate those living with chronic and serious illnesses. Therefore, we urge politicians, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to take action so that more young people with illness can complete upper secondary education,” says Heidi Sørensen, Director at Egmont Grant’s Administration.
The young people point to unclear rights, low expectations from the 'system', lack of flexibility in education, and social and physical barriers as some of the biggest challenges, according to a qualitative interview study among 23 young people conducted by the consulting firm Maple in Egmont Insights.
More can – if society is willing
In Egmont Insights, both experts and the young people themselves highlight what is needed for more young people with serious and chronic physical illnesses to complete an upper secondary education.
“We owe it to the large group of young people battling physical illness to listen to them and support them through school and education. The young people have rights within the education system that are not being fully met, so as a society, we must be better at informing them about these rights and ensuring that they benefit from them. Additionally, we should strengthen collaboration across hospitals, education, and municipalities so that all parties support the young person simultaneously”, says Carolina Magdalene Maier, leader of Egmont’s signature project, SygtStærk.
If more young people could have their dreams and ambitions of completing an upper secondary education fulfilled, it would not only benefit the individual’s lifetime income and quality of life. If the proportion of young people with illness who are without education by the age of 30 could be reduced by just one percentage point in a single cohort, there would also be an additional 50 million DKK in the "public purse" by the time that cohort turns 35.
The young people's five recommendations and the full Egmont Insights, including the new studies from Rambøll and Maple, can be found at www.egmont.dk/indsigt.
FACTS
About the Rambøll Study "Education and employment among young people with chronic and/or serious illness in youth"
The study is based on registry data from two large populations:
All young people between the ages of 12 and 24 in 2022.
All young people who turned 30 between 2013 and 2022.
In Denmark, one in eleven children and young people aged 12-24 (9%) have at some point been affected by a chronic or serious physical illness. This corresponds to approximately 73,000 children and young people.
Children and young people with chronic or serious physical illnesses have a 10 percentage point lower likelihood of starting upper secondary education.
About the Rambøll study "Life opportunities and socioeconomic potential"
The analysis includes registry data from a population of approximately 23,000 people who turned 30 between 2016-2022 and had contact with the healthcare system regarding one or more of 48 diseases that, according to medical assessments, have a particularly high mortality rate or are of a chronic nature.
Nearly one in four (23%) young people with serious physical illness have not received any education beyond primary school by the time they turn 30. This is almost twice as many as in the general population.
If this proportion could be reduced by just one percentage point to 22%, and those young people instead obtained vocational or higher education, there would be significant socioeconomic benefits. One percent corresponds to approximately 40 young people in a typical cohort. For every youth cohort in which this is achieved, there would be an additional 50 million DKK in the "public purse" by the time the cohort turns 35. After that, the annual benefit would be at least 4-6 million DKK.
About the Maple study "Young people with chronic or serious illness – and their experience of schooling and education"
The insights and recommendations in the study are based on five focus group interviews with a total of 23 young people who have a chronic or serious physical illness. The study highlights what factors influence whether this group of young people completes upper secondary education.
About Egmont and SygtStærk
Egmont is a commercial foundation with a dual purpose: to run a media business and to support children and young people facing difficult life circumstances in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
SygtStærk is Egmont’s flagship project focusing on young people aged 13 to 24 who live with chronic or severe physical illness. SygtStærk is a mobilising and transformative community designed to give young people the courage to take new steps in life—particularly when it comes to pursuing upper secondary education.
Egmont Insight is a publication from Egmont that highlights the challenges faced by children and young people in vulnerable situations and contributes to the conversation on how we can address them.
For more information
Press and Communications Manager at the Egmont Grant Administration, Tine Pind Jørum, phone 2711 6896, email tj@egmont.com .
