Our recent research brief laid out a modern, relevant definition for social mobility in 2025. Our Research and Policy Officer, Esme Lillywhite, who authored the research, sets out a clearer picture of what we really mean by social mobility.

Alongside our Opportunity Index in May, we published our research brief What is social mobility? with the aim of providing a modern definition. In light of Social Mobility Day last month and its theme of shifting mindsets, it’s important to reflect on what we actually mean when we talk about social mobility, common misconceptions of the term, and how it can be improved in this country.

Essentially, social mobility means breaking the link between socio-economic background and life chances. It sounds simple, but when we take a closer look, the definition, the concept and the implications become more complex.

The term social mobility has ebbed in and out of fashion over the past few decades across media and policy, seeing a peak around 2016/2017. Since then, other terms have gained popularity, including ‘opportunity’, ‘social justice’ and ‘levelling up’. While all getting at similar ideas, these terms are not fully interchangeable. For example, opportunity might refer to the first instance where young people are offered the opportunity to excel, but it doesn’t capture whether or not young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are actually taking up these opportunities . And social justice is a broader term that refers to fairness and equality within a system, of which social mobility plays an important part.

Although different terms have been used, the core issue remains high on the public and political agenda. Our polling found that 87% of the public believe in levelling the playing field, and equalising opportunities is at the heart of the Government’s Opportunity Mission.

So why has social mobility as a term partially fallen by the wayside, despite evidence that the majority of people remain committed to the idea of it? Firstly, let’s deal with a few common misconceptions .

Getting away from traditional concepts of social mobility

When people think of social mobility, some may think of rags to riches, or long-range mobility from the bottom of the economic ladder to the top. However, social mobility includes all trajectories including short to medium range mobility too, for example someone from a very poor background getting a stable job and decent standard of living.

Another misconception is that people may think of elite higher education as the only route to achieving social mobility. While our research shows that going to a high-ranking university remains the surest route to mobility, other routes such as apprenticeships, further education, and working your way up the career ladder are all important too. This is reflected in our Access Apprenticeships programme, which is designed to support disadvantaged young people into high-quality apprenticeships and training.

Furthermore, social mobility measures have traditionally focused on giving a national picture — often due to the availability of data — regardless of the differences within that. However, differences in social mobility and opportunity have been more widely acknowledged, including differences across gender, ethnicity, disability, and above all, geography. Our Opportunity Index highlighted how much young people’s life chances can depend on where they grew up, with pupils eligible for free school meals in Ruislip Northwood and Pinner in London six times more likely to be in the top 20% of earners as adults compared to those in Leeds East.

The future of social mobility

It’s clear that the future of social mobility relies on a broader, more inclusive definition, reflective of different experiences. Key to this is the geography of mobility in Britain.

Our Opportunity Index serves as a reminder of the need to spread opportunities across the country, so that young people have the chance to succeed no matter where they grew up. People should not have to leave their communities for education or high-quality jobs. These opportunities should be available everywhere. At the same time, moving elsewhere to take advantage of opportunities should not be limited to the wealthiest in society.

Another key to a broader definition of social mobility is broadening how it is measured. Economic outcomes are important indicators, but other outcomes such as health and wellbeing are also vital in understanding people’s quality of life and how it relates to their socio-economic background.

Finally, we need to recognise some of the barriers to achieving equal opportunities moving forward. 31% of children in the UK live in poverty, with the two-child limit on benefits being a significant driver of this. In order to improve social mobility, it’s paramount to ensure children have the best possible start to life, free from poverty.

It’s important we remain committed to improving opportunities for all. Not only is equal opportunity to thrive a key indicator of fairness in society, but it’s also crucial for improving productivity. In a country where talent is everywhere but opportunity is not, ensuring everyone can reach their full potential is essential to driving inclusive economic growth and securing a fairer, more prosperous future for all