1.2 million 16-24 year olds currently out of work?

I advertised an entry level legal admin job last year and was swamped (it paid just over minimum wage) I was surprised how many yp applying had degrees and some had postgraduate degrees (some from prestigious universities) but not any paid work at all.

I think it’s just different now. I remember growing up in the 70s and early 80s most kids were pushed into work from mid teens, even on a part time basis, by parents. I certainly was, as were most of my friends. No gap years either, or time spent deciding what you wanted to do. I think parents are more flexible these days as to getting their young adult kids out into the work place.

@lavenderlou Snap

There is a whole raft of evidence that disproves this. There are plenty of entry level/unskilled jobs out there that will get people a foot in the door if they want them/are prepared to do them. Construction and hospitality immediately spring to mind as industries that are crying out for people.

These figures are also misleading as there are so many people and young people disproportionately in think, who are grossly underemployed. I know of young people who have recently got jobs but only being offered 6 hours a week etc and they have to be available at the whim of the employer. They won't appear on the actual unemployed figures.

Just trying to decide what is more soul destroying, applying for jobs or dating...

I remember applying to summer job when in university. local council office had over 800 applicants. Thankfully don't have to do that anymore. My current workplace was recruiting (not entry level) and we regularly get hundreds if applicants and we are not even a desired employer (badly paid broke public sector). Job market is crazy.

Anecdotally, out of my 3 dc (all young adults) and their friends, the only ones not working full time are in college or university.

Offices are paperless now. No-one files

When I was a teen the local paper had a job section about 40 pages long. Nowadays the same paper has maybe 2 pages of jobs. The rest are advertised online via indeed etc. So anyone can apply with a few clicks. Whereas 20 years ago there might have been 3 or 4 local people applying for a local job, maybe by dropping your CV in or calling a number to ask for an interview, now a hundred people are applying for that job and every other job in a 5 mile radius. It is easier to apply for a job, but it is easier for everyone else to too, so each company has dozens of CVs to sift through and half of them will never get read.

I was made redundant about 10 years ago and I applied for every job going. Literally hundreds and got 3 interviews. Job hunting in this day and age is utterly soul destroying, whatever age you are.

My daughter is 23. Despite having worked for the last 3 years in various jobs she has gone back to uni and now can’t find a job.

her first job she was lucky in that a large venue re-opening after Covid was looking to hire an entire new workforce. When she was at college nowhere would consider an under 18.

Since September she has applied for over 200 jobs. A lot of places want full flexibility over the whole week, not suitable for students.

She’s had two interviews out of that. The last one they told her they chose 15 to interview out of 150 candidates (12 hours per week retail position)

My partner is put if that age bracket But I'd imagine the fresh graduates face the same problem. Partner has been out if work since June. He's gotten 4 different jobs.

First job decided to just change the parameters of the job. They changed the title and the salary between the interview and offer letter. when bf asked about it, apparently they'd sort it once he started.

Second jobs version of hybrid work was WFH 3 days/month and with commuting the salary and position doesn't make sense (OK, younger people might be able to move)

Third job was offered and then bf didn't hear anything for a few weeks and contacted them, they said they didn't get the permission to fill the position.

Fourth one the application deadline was mid November. The job was offered right before Christmas. They just now asked for references. No talk of starting date or anything. Just dragging their feet.

So the job market is a mess for qualified people. Let alone youngsters.

I didn't get a job until I was 19, but since the average UK woman doesn't work full time across their working life and is more commonly part time than anything else, I've already done 2-3 times the hours the average woman does overall (in my late 30s).

The government suggest there's only around 800k job vacancies in the last 3 month period and these aren't necessarily full time, and will include a lot of jobs that need more experience. I think it is tough to get work.

https://learningandwork.org.uk/what-we-do/social-justice-inclusion/youth-commission/youth-opportunity-index/ From the same source interactive map (if you scroll down the linked page a bit) to show a more localised picture

I do apologise OP I must have got confused with another thread😴however, London or not my comment still applies. It's not just about any disabilities/MH issues keeping the youngsters out, my DS23 has ASD and has overcome a great deal so far including being excluded from mainstream education since Year2 and a fight to get him back on track.

With my support he's been to College (got an L3 Btec), done voluntary work, been useful but the only thing on offer is an Apprenticeship with another L3 Btec and no job at the end of it. He's doing it but says he'd rather earn the NMW than the cut-price Apprenticeship wage.

We're sorting out his Uni applications now to study his passion; he'll get in having done a trial run through clearing last year.

The next worry is getting me a job once I wave him off in Sept - spent so many years ensuring DS was fine my own CV looks like shit, I'm old and there aren't many jobs around.

My twins are only 7. Both have ADHD and are Autistic. Twin 2 has more complex needs, with moderate to severe learning difficulties.
I do worry about what their future looks like, but even now I try to - as much as possible - get them involved in stuff around the house, helping in the garden, thinking about others and the local environment/community.
Even if paid work options are not feasible when they get to 15 or 16, there are still volunteering opportunities.
We're, I guess, poor and can't afford extra curricular activities, but I do - even now - try to prepare them for the world they'll be part of in the future.
But, yeah, as each year passes, I do increasingly wonder what the contribution to society for each girl will look like 9 or 10 years from now.
Scary, tbh.

There aren't that many "sweeping the floor on Saturdays" jobs anymore.

You have to do psychometric tests to get a job at Asda now. 🤷‍♀️