AS far as stereotypes go, today’s teenagers generally aren’t painted in the best of lights.

Modern youth?

Wouldn’t know manners if they fell over them... Young people? All they think about are selfies and status updates...

Paraphrase here and there if you like, but that’s basically what many more mature folk believe, spurred on by incessant headlines about rising teen knife crime, surging unemployment and social media obsession rewiring everyone’s brains.

But while all these headlines may be based on fact, they also ignore another important fact; namely that today’s teenagers are the most community-minded generation in 100 years.

Back in February, independent think tank and research institute Demos labelled today’s youth as Generation Citizen, and now it’s backed up by a new report by the National Citizen Service (NCS).

Studying trends and data over the last century, the NCS has revealed that 52 per cent of today’s teenagers place a great emphasis on feeling a duty to be an active citizen, compared with only 43 per cent of Baby Boomers.

What’s more, they’re the youth group most likely to support a cause they believe in (72 per cent); a third (33 per cent) have already raised money for charity and a quarter (26 per cent) have volunteered in their local area. This last figure is second only to what’s dubbed, quite rightly, the Greatest Generation – those coming of age in the Second World War.

It’s a significant blow against all those “modern youth, eye-roll” naysayers, but it doesn’t mean it’s all rosy for our teenagers.

Yes, they mean well and do good, but they also face significant hurdles.

Firstly, for all their tech savviness, they worry they lack the skills and confidence to face today’s tricky jobs market.

Only 19 per cent expect to have a job for life – a comfort nearly half of the Silent Generation, born between 1929 and 1942, could enjoy and, even more worrying, a staggering 92 per cent of Generation Citizen expect to “encounter challenges when looking for long-term employment”.

Michael Lynas, spokesman for the NCS, says: “We need to make sure [this generation] is equipped with the right tools and opportunities as they enter a complex jobs market.

“Programmes like National Citizen Service do this by teaching young people lessons they can’t learn in the classroom. By coming together with others in their local area and putting something back, young people not only make new friends, they develop confidence, teamwork and leadership: all essential skills for life and work.”

It’s very sound advice, and hopefully advice that’ll lift our youth over the obstacles that lie ahead.

But for the rest of us, perhaps a little older than Generation Citizen, let’s look back, and see how the main traits of our teen years measure up Lost Generation Born 1885-1900 First to experience free compulsory primary education.

Greatest Generation Age now: 90-113 Valued skills such as resilience, leadership and initiative more than any other.

Silent Generation Age now: 72-89 Most keen to follow a passion in long-term employment, particularly science and engineering. The first to value having a job for life, seeing continuity as important to get ahead.

Baby Boomers Age now: 54-71 The first to experience compulsory free secondary education until the age of 15, free healthcare and all the benefits of the welfare state.

The generation least concerned about succeeding highly in their careers or saving for the future.

Generation X Age now: 32-53 Growing up against the economic recession in the early 1980s, they’re the least confident about securing employment. Celebrity culture also had an impact; many Generation X teens aspired to be famous.

Generation Y Age now: 13-32 The first to experience the effects of the internet, but this has led to choice paralysis – they’re the generation most likely to daydream about a new job while at work. Fears around pensions and unprecedented student debts means they’re the most concerned about saving for their future.

Generation Citizen Age now: 13-19 The first true digital natives, they’re the most ambitious generation, but expect to encounter more barriers to securing longterm employment. They’re the most entrepreneurial and community-minded.

l To sign up for a summer NCS programme, visit ncsyes.co.uk