HAPPENING NOW: YOUNG MEN IN BRITAIN

Young men in Britain still believe in hard work. They still want to succeed. But new research from LADbible Group suggests many feel increasingly locked out of the opportunities, stability and sense of belonging needed to build the future they want.

To explore these findings, we launched Happening Now – a new event series from LADbible Group that combines original research, lived experience and influential voices to tackle the issues shaping young people’s lives.

Hosted at our London HQ and chaired by award-winning broadcaster Leon Mann, the inaugural discussion brought together Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Jim Chapman, Sarah Sternberg from Movember and mental health campaigner Ben West for an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing young men today.

The Research

Ahead of the event, we surveyed 2,000 young people aged 18–34, including 1,500 young men, to better understand their perspectives on work, money, identity, community, health and the future.

The findings paint a nuanced picture. Young men remain optimistic and ambitious, but many feel that the path to success has become increasingly difficult to navigate. While public debate often centres on masculinity itself, the research shows that economic security, purpose and community are the issues that dominate young men’s lives.

1. Opportunity & Economic Security

Young men continue to believe in the value of hard work, but increasingly question whether opportunity is accessible.

Key findings:

• 84% believe hard work still leads to opportunities.
• 89% believe opportunities exist but are difficult to access.
• 54% say a lower cost of living would make the biggest positive difference to their lives.
• 59% say money and career pressures are the biggest source of pressure they face.
• 54% identify money as their biggest day-to-day worry.
• 41% say financial stability feels out of reach.
• 30% still believe there are plenty of opportunities for people who work hard, significantly higher than young women.

The findings suggest that young men have not lost ambition, they are concerned that the route to achieving it is becoming increasingly inaccessible.

2. Purpose, Identity & Wellbeing

The research challenges assumptions about what young men see as their biggest challenges, with purpose and stability outweighing concerns around masculinity itself.

Key findings:

• 31% believe financial stability would most benefit young men today.
• 28% say better job opportunities would make the biggest difference.
• 20% say young men need more purpose and direction.
• Only 6% identify masculinity or identity expectations as one of their biggest worries.
• 19% say a sense of purpose feels out of reach.
• 29% worry most about their mental health.
• 25% feel good mental health is currently out of reach.

Rather than focusing primarily on identity, respondents consistently prioritised meaningful work, financial security and opportunities to build a stable future.

3. Community, Culture & Belonging

Young men recognise the importance of community but increasingly feel disconnected from the places and opportunities that help create it.

Key findings:

• 74% believe local communities are being neglected.
• 69% think politicians are out of touch with local high streets.
• 65% believe a lack of opportunity pushes young people towards crime.
• 49% say the cost of living is making socialising harder.
• 42% say more affordable social spaces would improve their local area.
• 31% mainly socialise online rather than in person.
• 56% say finances negatively impact their social life.

The findings point to belonging as both an economic and social issue, with affordability and access increasingly shaping how young people connect with one another.

Watch the Full Discussion

Watch the full roundtable below to hear directly from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Leon Mann, Jim Chapman, Sarah Sternberg and Ben West as they discuss what the research reveals about opportunity, purpose, community and the future for young men in Britain.