AIBU to think it is harder to find a job now?

[girlfriend44]

Is it harder to get a job now than it used to be?
I’ve been chatting with a few friends and family recently — some younger (16 20)and some of us are older , and we were talking about how difficult it seems to be finding work at the moment.
It got me wondering what other people’s experiences are. Has anyone else found it harder to get a job? Do employers get back to you after you apply, and what sort of problems have you come across?

Are agencies the worst?

Much harder, particularly for younger and more inexperienced applicants

Yea this old thing, you need experience, but how can I get any if you dont t give me a chance?

Yes, as the levels have blurred and what they want for what they are willing to pay has changed as well.

I have over 20 yrs experience, and yet jobs that want my experience want to also pay 2010 wages.

I recently applied for a role that was a placement coordinator. It was min wage, and min quals are Nat 5s. But they wanted someone with decent admin experience.

I am also discovering that experience and degrees don't mean much - especially combined.

I've found jobs the same as mine, or less than I am on, and that are less than if you adjust to allow for wage based inflation (I,E 30k in 2015 is 40k now, except its not, and they want the same skills for 28k!).

PT jobs are like hens teeth around here for younger people as many establishments want under ideally 16, or at least under 21 (lower wages). Some even let people go when they reach 18. Or they want set shifts - which I know helps those who have childcare, but when my eldest has looked it has been ones that are in school time.

Then you have that people are staying in employment longer - a significant number of over 60s are still employed compared to previous years - those are roles that would be filled by younger folk (when it comes to retail type jobs).
Those aged 65 and over: The employment rate for those past their 65th birthday has doubled over the past quarter-century.
Those approaching retirement: Employment rates for the 55-59 age group stand at around 75%.
Shift to part-time/self-employment: Much of this demographic's workforce participation involves part-time work or self-employment rather than traditional 9-to-5 roles.

Seems to have been an increase in self employment in terms of gardeners and cleaners round by us though.
Eldest says a goof number of her year that left this year though are going off to apprenticeships - motor, building and hairdressing, admin and childcare.

Does every she group have the problem that they don't hear back from employers.

Yes my 19 year old 8s desperste for a job he will do anything
Happy to work weekends/ unsocial hours
But its brutal out there.

Unfortunately its what people voted for. 14 years of Tory under investment plus yanking us out of the EU has really stifled the economy. Exactly as predicted.
It will take at least 20 years to get back to where we were even if politicians wanted to.

Does he hear back from anyone?

Only ww are sorry ww cant tske your applucation any further type Emails
Hes currently doing a voluntry course with the Kings Trust
Thats helping with CVs job searches etc

I know a couple of people actively looking at the moment and having no luck - both highly experienced and capable. The job market is really tough right now.

I think it depends on what your occupation is.

We advertise graduate type roles and have to set a cap so we don't get hundreds of applicants.

More specialist and senior roles, we might not get any suitable applicants. If your occupation is something that there is a shortage of, it will be much easier to find work.

I’m doing recruitment at the moment and some of the applications for the (graduate) post are shockingly bad
Lots aren’t even for the job being advertised, and there have been a couple where all they have said (I kid you not) is “ I meet all the essential critertia for this post’and that is it .
im no longer surprised people are applying for 500 jobs without success if that’s the calibre of application
Though I think there are fewer vacancies across a lot of organisations and sectors, and what vacancies there are are internal, or are two posts smushed into one (but no increase of pay for increase of responsibilities)

I think there is also a certain amount of you can do what you want, or you can be where you want. If you’re willing to travel to a different city, or if you’re willing to do whatever, then you’re in with a chance of finding something
But babysitting, dishwashing, sticking-flyers-in-local-newspapers, Saturday morning in the florist type jobs, they don’t seem to exist at all

@girlfriend44 volunteering work. My son has just got an apprenticeship ( he's 21). Been at college and volunteering to keep busy

Dd has just graduated with a first- minimum wage is £26,436.8, salary with a degree £26,436.8

She is getting interviews at least. Her boyfriend works already but in antisocial hours,he is also looking and getting interviews, the latest one is for an interview plus team building exercises that will last all day- for an entry level job. They are taking the piss in my opinion and it's giving a really bad view of the company and judgement of managers.

We are hoping they both get jobs soon that will allow them to start building their lives together, even if not the dream jobs.

People in that city will also be looking for a job though?

Ai has decimated some industries. It’s also eaten a lot of entry level jobs both for teens and for graduates, things that the new starter could do in a week can be done by AI in 5 minutes. People laid off and much less people hired. That along with aftermath of Brexit, and everything seismic that’s happened since and things are just very bad.

I was looking for jobs three years ago and there seemed a good variety of decent jobs. Shortly after I got a job in summer 2024, the job market seemed to fall off a cliff. I feel sorry for anyone looking for a job now.

Perhaps? But if your skills are in a certain area, eg aerospace and whilst there are some jobs around say Oxford , and that’s where your friends and family are, but actually there are loads of jobs in some random town in the north west, then you’d be daft not to move. plus, these organisations have lots of paraprofessional and support roles as well as deeply technical

A friend of mine has recently become a bus driver. There are also shortages of train drivers.

I recently applied for around 150 jobs, invited to eight interviews and got offered 1 job. About 30 got back to me - exhausting two months.

My youngest son finished Uni this year. His last semester/exams finished on May22nd. He immediately started job hunting and applied for around 45 jobs until he got offered 1. He is currently working in retail but it is agency work for a new make-up retailer that has recently opened in Edinburgh. It could be that once the summer/Edinburgh Festival is over, he will be, let go. Have told him to keep looking for something that is maybe more permanent but he is happy to do anything for the next year whilst he has a break from studying. Considering going back to Uni in 2027 to either do his Masters or do 1 year teaching course. He is fortunate that he has some work and earning some money.

I'm finding the job market hard and I've got a reasonable skill set, yet still getting back to back rejections so far. I have solid references, a vocational degree and practical experience, doing trainings to upskill, paying a monthly fee for a training course website, doing volunteering and courses through FreeCoursesEngland which I'm really enjoying, and I think will pay off in the end, but am currently in no mans land on the job front. I recently applied for an archives job with experience & a spot-on reference from a major museum, and didn't even get an interview.

I think I'm in the awkward spot where you're too qualified for certain jobs but not qualified enough for management necessarily. I'm not afraid to apply for entry level jobs, cleaning & retail etc. But I never hear back. I apply for jobs v similar to what I do now - rejected. I take a chance and apply for something a bit different, that would be a step up - rejected. It's bloody hard!

I'm doing a good job of staying positive. I tell myself that it's a process and will all pay off. I work full time, and tbh I do question the old adage that it's easier to find a job when you have a job. It's literally done me no favours, after about 9 months of job hunting.
Self care is important in this - it's a job in itself looking for work, and ppl around you can be brutal and not constructive. Got to be your own cheerleader on this which gets really tough after another demoralising week x