Figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) indicate that the number of under-18s on company payrolls is at its lowest point in five years. This decline has prompted concerns that young people may be missing opportunities to develop workplace skills and confidence.
In a region encompassing Surrey, East and West Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, the number of employed under-18s has fallen by almost 19% in the past two years. This represents a decrease of more than 14,000 people since 2024.
Jessica Marshall, 18, who works at the Grapevine Bar in Herne Bay, Kent, said her job has helped build her confidence, social, and time management skills. Fin Dale, 23, and Madison Leaver, 18, also shared how early work experience provided them with valuable skills and helped overcome shyness.
Some employers have cited changes to tax rates, higher minimum wages for teenagers, and restrictions on employing under-18s as factors making it more difficult to hire young workers. Chris Miller, company administrator at Dean's Plaice in Herne Bay, noted fierce competition for seasonal work, with at least 10 applicants for every job advertised.
The government described youth employment as a "complex issue years in the making" and stated its determination to address it. It highlighted a £2.5bn investment in youth employment support, aiming to create nearly one million jobs and training opportunities, and mentioned that further reform will follow the Milburn Review this autumn.