A perfect storm of factors is battering the UK's youth job market, leaving many graduates and young workers feeling defeated and disillusioned. According to the latest ONS labour market data, the number of 18-24-year-olds in work has fallen by nearly a quarter since 2019, exacerbating concerns about the future prospects of this age group.
Margaret Carradus from Preesall, Lancashire, echoes these sentiments, recalling her husband's own struggles to find employment after graduating with a degree in microbiology. 'Despite holding qualifications and ambition, many young people today face fewer opportunities and the need for at least two incomes to build a life and a future,' she notes.
Susan West from Quorn, Leicestershire, is all too familiar with this reality. Her son's experience of applying for hundreds of jobs in the East Midlands has been marked by frustration and disappointment. 'We've seen a scarcity of graduate training schemes and apprenticeships in our area,' she notes, 'and it seems that many entry-level data roles require at least two years' experience.' West suggests charities could play a greater role in providing meaningful work experience involving problem-solving and teamwork.
The 'degrees for all' policy has been widely criticised for failing to prepare students for the job market. Margaret Carradus attributes this to an abject failure of government initiatives, which have left many young people deep in debt with limited prospects. The rising pension age, she suggests, is also creating a logjam for those seeking employment.
Adding an international perspective, Paul Kelly from Dublin, Ireland, argues that Brexit's impact on freedom of movement has been a double-edged sword. 'Limiting opportunities for Britons to work in the EU has had unintended consequences,' he notes. 'Agreements with the EU are vital to providing more international prospects for young people.'