The Skills Imperative 2035 is a five-year strategic research programme which is investigating future skills needs, skills supply and skill development, with a particular focus on the 'Essential Employment Skills' (EES) that are projected to be most vital across the labour market in 2035. The focus in this stage of the programme is on exploring the implications of labour market changes for young people. This summary report and accompanying working paper investigates cross-country differences in young people's cognitive, socio-emotional and self-management skills, in line with the hypothesis that young people's levels of these skills are likely to be closely related with their EES in early adulthood. The authors identify education system factors associated with better skills outcomes and draw out implications for policy makers and education system leaders in England for how future skills needs might be met in England, particularly the growing demand for EES.