Care Leavers and Employment: A Scoping Review

Young people leaving out-of-home care often face a sudden reduction in formal support, a condition known as ‘care leaving’. Employment is a critical factor in their transition to independence, yet limited international literature examines the relationship between employment and care leaving. This scoping review investigates factors that promote or hinder care leavers' access to employment. Following the JBI scoping review protocol, three online databases were searched, yielding 25 relevant studies from an initial pool of 326. Factors influencing care leavers' employment were categorized into three phases (pre-care, in-care and post-care) and analysed across three levels: individual, environmental and policy. In-care factors emerged as particularly significant in shaping future employment opportunities. Improving employment outcomes for care leavers requires a holistic approach that addresses challenges across phases and levels. Policymakers and practitioners should prioritize resilience-building and social inclusion through targeted interventions, focusing on promotion rather than repair.