Drivers of social mobility
Drivers of social mobility are the background conditions that make social mobility easier.
Highlighted data
Childhood poverty
The percentage of children living in relative poverty in the UK (after housing costs) has gone up to around 30% since 2012, below the levels reached in the 1990s.
Read more about childhood povertyYouth unemployment
Unemployment among young people is the highest it has been since 2020, at 16% in 2024.
Read more about youth unemploymentBroadband speed
The percentage of homes and businesses with access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection has gone up across the UK since 2020, reaching 82% in 2024.
Read more about broadband speedElsewhere in State of the Nation 2025
Mobility outcomes look at people's occupations, educational levels and housing situations, typically in their 40s and 50s.
Intermediate outcomes focus on the experiences of young people as they move through education and into work.