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

[Hmmmmwhy]

just heard this on the telly, is this correct? Anyone any anecdotal data (your own children- mine are much younger) of why? I find that astounding imagine if these young people never work, terrifying

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.

I admit I live in London now but I am from oop north and can prove it (grabs flat cap)
that’s exceptional what he’s achieved and no doubt that’s down to having such a persistent and supportive parent - well done

I guess this all feeds in to the fact of a) tech has provided a lot of ‘higher level’ jobs but taken away a lot of entry level ones (the McDonald’s example, self service checkouts, ordering food via QR code etc)
but also I guess a lot of jobs really are inaccessible for those with autism and the like, maybe there needs to be more supported opportunities for entry level jobs for youngsters with additional needs to build confidence etc rather than just having them sit on disability benefits when they actually a) might not want to themselves and b) have valuable intelligence and skills that just have to be nurtured in a different way than those who are neurotypical
it feels like a load of youngsters are being missed out of the world of work or written off from it

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).

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.

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)

200!! Oh my gosh. Honestly I’m panicked about the state of the future for these kids this is awful.

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.

I feel for them having the feedback that they need experience, but nobody is willing to give them it. Must be bloody soul destroying and can see why a lot of youngsters maybe pick uni when they’re not 100% sold on it as it seems a better option than sitting at home getting rejected for job after job!

Offices are paperless now. No-one files

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

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.

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

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.

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.

@lavenderlou Snap

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.

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.

My 23 year old was luck to get on a grad training scheme straight after she graduated but this was because a mum at the school gates knew her and made sure her application went through to interview stage.

However younger DD left with A' levels and despite being 18 and applying for over 50 jobs on Indeed for waitressing, cleaning, admin assistant, bar staff, warehouse operative has had zero luck so far. It seems that so many jobs want people with experience and of course she has none. It is so demotivating for her.

Aha OP, so you is in London after all 😂. It's been decades ince I lived there and the few times I've lived in the SE it's easy to get a job and you need to have serious problems to be truly unemployable.

But there are many parts of this country where the job availability is absolute pants - not just now - when I lived in Sunderland c1980 I felt like I had moved to another country, the obvious poverty was a clear contrast to the SE and no wonder we were called smug/weak Southerners.

I've mostly been in the SW for 3 decades and it's far less brutal than the NE but as far as jobs go, not much going on.

My 16 year old daughter lifeguards and so do some of her friends. Others work in shops or supermarket deli counters or collecting glasses in the pub . Others baby sitting. Feels much like it did when I was younger. Part time work while at school

I know proper jobs are what is wanted but can I advocate for voluntary work whilst job hunting as it's a great way to get experience and a reference as well as showing initiative and good community spirit.

Dare you tell that to my granny up in Wakey 😆 (she still hasn’t forgiven me for the move…)
interesting my mother is from the NE and wow yes they had it bad, still do. Not only jobs market but housing too.
I guess I’m blinkered because I’m in a job I’ve had a long long time, therefore been an age since I’ve been an applicant. I just don’t understand how we expect our young people to progress if they can’t even get part time jobs to start them on their way
i thought it was that some didn’t want them but this thread has shown many do, they just don’t exist. I find it really depressing.

I work in the construction industry for a small family run firm and I can tell you that we are not crying out for people.

we get dozens of people phoning each week asking about jobs. It’s expensive for an employer to train an apprentice. The people we need are skilled, not entry level unskilled. We actually have 3 apprentices which is good for a firm employing 25 people but there are not the entry level jobs available.

My close friend works in retail and there aren't any 'Saturday jobs' any more, which is where I had my first job. They are all on either zero hours contracts or minimum 16 hour contracts per week on a rota. She's really lucky that she's got a nice team in a nice place and can more or less choose her hours, but she left her last job because they swapped the rotas around all the time and she couldn't manage childcare.

They do have a couple of older students but most of their staff are p/t working mothers. The lack of 'fixed' weekend hours means it doesn't work for young kids, even in the nice place.

I do wonder if a lot of this is based upon whether you’re in a town / village/ city. Growing up I was in a village / town and weirdly seemed getting a job was easier as it was its own little micro climate jobs wise. I guess the issue is now where I am a huge city, it’s not set up like that and the population is also a lot more transient