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 Skills Imperative 2035 is on young people's skill development up to the end of childhood. This report summarises the findings in the accompanying technical report, where factors that are most predictive of young people's cognitive and behavioural outcomes as they progress through childhood are identified, with the hypothesis being that these outcomes are antecedents for EES. This summary paper explores the implications of this research for how future skills needs in the labour market might be met, particularly the growing demand for EES. This paper is intended for policy makers and education sector leaders and considers the implications of our research into childhood skills development and gaps for the policy and practice changes required to meet future skills needs in England.