Industry Guide

Science & Research Careers for Young People

Explore, discover, and solve the big questions. Science and research offers young people the chance to push boundaries — from lab bench to field work — with growing demand for curious, analytical minds.

Open Budi

Science & research: explore where it could take you

What the industry covers

What kind of people thrive here?

This kind of work is usually driven by curiosity, analytical and data-led, collaborative and based on evidence and careful thinking. It can suit you if you like work that has a clear purpose, gives you room to grow, and connects your strengths to real tasks.

Attention to Detail

You notice small things and care about accuracy and quality.

Problem Solving

You stay curious and work through challenges step by step.

Technical Skills

You enjoy learning how tools, systems or equipment work.

Creativity

You enjoy developing ideas and finding fresh ways to express or solve something.

Key industry insights

Look beyond the obvious employers

Local organisations, SMEs, charities, public bodies and specialist employers can offer valuable first steps, practical experience and clearer routes to responsibility.

Pay varies by role

Experience, responsibility, qualifications, employer and location all affect salary. Treat published figures as a guide rather than a guarantee.

How to start your science & research career

1.Explore your strengths.

Think about whether you prefer creating, making, fixing, analysing, organising, supporting people or working with technology.

2.Research realistic pathways.

Look at apprenticeships, college courses, traineeships, volunteering, entry-level vacancies and local employers.

3.Build evidence.

Use school, college, work, volunteering or personal projects to show what you can already do.

4.Learn the language of the sector.

Read job descriptions, follow current developments and notice the skills employers mention repeatedly.

5.Apply before you feel perfect.

Employers do not expect beginners to know everything — they look for potential, reliability and willingness to learn.

Roles and career pathways

Where people often start

Opportunities include lab technician roles, research support, data, biotech, climate science, environmental research, science communication and government or private R&D. Apprenticeships can be a realistic way in.

Where it can lead

Science and research is about asking questions, testing ideas and using evidence to understand the world. Work can happen in labs, universities, government agencies, environmental projects, private R&D, data teams and science communication. With experience, you may move into specialist, supervisory, management, consultancy or leadership work depending on the pathway you choose.

What employers value

Helpful skills include critical thinking, data analysis, attention to detail, written communication, solving problems, technical competency and collaboration. You do not need to be perfect at all of them straight away — these are strengths you can build through projects, volunteering, part-time work, courses, apprenticeships or simply practising.

Skills employers value

Attention to Detail
Problem Solving
Technical Skills
Creativity

Trends and useful preparation

Why this section matters

This field is changing. Showing that you understand what is happening — and that you are already taking small steps to prepare — can help you stand out.

Trends to watch

Market picture: Vacancies appear to be rising year on year (around +4.3%). That is roughly 3k more vacancies than the comparison period. The latest vacancy estimate is about 72k. This suggests there may be more openings, but it is still worth checking local employers and entry routes.
Opportunity areas: Opportunities include lab technician roles, research support, data, biotech, climate science, environmental research, science communication and government or private R&D. Apprenticeships can be a realistic way in.
Things to be aware of: Things to be aware of: funding can be uncertain, experiments may not work first time, and some pathways are long. Curiosity and patience are just as important as knowledge.

Useful preparation

Prepare a research or problem-solving story.
Explain the question, method, result and what you learned when things did not go perfectly.
Show curiosity, accuracy and patience.
If you have lab, data, fieldwork, coursework or science communication examples, use them.
Employers value careful thinking, not pretending to know everything.

Your next step

You do not need to be a finished expert to belong in science & research. Start with curiosity, build evidence through small experiences and explore the pathway that fits how you work best.