UK Teens Most Community Spirited Since Blitz Generation

Today's teenagers are the most ambitious and community minded generation since the "Greatest Generation" of WWII, according to the National Citizen Service.

But the skills building scheme, which is open to 15 to 17 year olds in England and Northern Ireland, also warned that today's youngsters feel they lack the confidence required to navigate today's more complex jobs market.

The report, which questioned 3,500 people about the track of attitudes and experiences of teenagers from WWI to the present day, revealed that more than two thirds (79%) of modern teens state career success is important to them, compared to 58% of the "Greatest Generation" (born between 1901-1924) and 62% of the Baby Boomers (1943-1960).

"By looking at modern teens, Generation Citizen, against a backdrop of the generations before them, this research suggests that we are actually looking at the most ambitious, entrepreneurial and, interestingly, most altruistic generation since the war generations," said Dr Ellis, senior lecturer in history of education at Liverpool Hope University.

The study also found that today's teens were also the most entrepreneurial of all the generations, with 8% aspiring to start their own business, compared to only 4% of Generation X (1961-1982) and 2% of the "Greatest Generation".

At the same time, the survey revealed that today's teens are shown to be the most likely to see the purpose of work as making a difference to others and society.

Almost a fifth (17%) of the upcoming generation saw work as a means to make a difference, compared to just 10% of the Baby Boomers, who were the most likely generation to see work as a means to earn a living (76%).

NCS explained today's teens also placed a much greater emphasis on feeling that you have a duty to be an active citizen, with 52% supporting this view, compared to 43% of Baby Boomers.

They are also the most likely generation to support a cause they believe in (72%), with a third (33%) having raised money for charity and a quarter (26%) having volunteered in their local area, second only to the "Greatest Generation" (36%).