Young people in Guernsey are considering leaving the island due to limited career opportunities, with only 27% expressing confidence in staying. The main concerns include housing costs, living expenses, and lack of job prospects, with some students feeling that university is necessary for better career prospects elsewhere. A survey by Dr Nicola Brink found that young people feel disconnected from the older generations and are seeking a more welcoming community. The island's government has been urged to prioritize affordable housing, stable career opportunities, and support services for mental health and wellbeing.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Young people on the island of Guernsey are concerned about their future due to a lack of career opportunities and affordable housing. A survey by Dr. Nicola Brink, Guernsey's Medical Officer of Health and Director of Public Health, found that only 27% of respondents aged 16-24 were confident in staying on the island. 36% of respondents said they would definitely leave, citing a lack of career opportunities, social choices, and poor weather as reasons. A further 37% were unsure about their future on the island. The survey also highlighted concerns over housing costs, rising living expenses, travel costs, and limited job prospects. Many young people feel that there is a gap between themselves and older generations, with one respondent stating it was a "real shame" that there isn't more sense of community between the two groups. As a result, some are considering leaving the island to pursue education and career opportunities elsewhere.
Written for “Youth Job and Housing Concerns” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.25 for article 791 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-26
- Published
Young people have said a lack of career opportunities are forcing them to think about leaving home.
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lack → publish → home
Only 27% of the young people Brink heard from said they were confident in staying on the island.
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they → hear → island
Amber Thomson told BBC Guernsey: "I think that a lot of people kind of tend to go to uni[versity] and then they think, well there's not that much opportunity for me if I come back."
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I → tell → me
The 21-year-old studied environmental science and said she planned to move away for more career opportunities and to "see what else is out there in the world".
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what → study → world
She said: "Guernsey is a really, really tiny place and when you start to look at the world as a whole you realise just how small it is and how little you have seen in life."
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you → say → life
She valued the safety of island life but added: "I think that there's a real gap between the young people of Guernsey and then the older generations.
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I → value → Guernsey
I think that it's a real shame that we don't have any sense of community between the two groups at all" and said it would be good to bridge that gap.
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it → think → gap
Career prospects
Bill Nicholson, 21, said he was also considering a future off the island.
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he → say → island
He said university life or moving away offered "exciting opportunities both personally and professionally, meeting new people and living in quite studentified areas".
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life → say → areas
He added: "Should a student move back [to Guernsey] it would mean drastic changes to their career prospects".
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it → add → prospects
The report had also highlighted that young people felt the government did not listen to them.
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government → highlight → them
Nicholson said the government should look at demand for stable career prospects, affordable housing and the need "for a place where they can feel welcome and that they can feel that they can flourish".
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they → say → place
Maisie Foote from the wellbeing team at the Youth Commission said she was not surprised young people reported concerns about mental health and that there is often a waiting list for support services.
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people → say → services
Foote added young islanders were "trying to navigate" the challenges of social media and the world they are growing up in.
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they → add → media
She said: "We need a little more understanding, it's quite a difficult time to be young at the moment."
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it → say → moment
There was also a need for more free activities for young people to do.
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people → be → activities
The author of the survey, Dr Nicola Brink, said "we want the bailiwick to be a vibrant and happy place where young people can thrive."
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people → say → survey
Thomson said some young people felt lonely and noted "we don't talk to each other as much as we used to."
Follow BBC Guernsey on X, external and Facebook, external and Instagram, external.
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we → say → X
