Every business needs its next generation of employees. Yet right now, nearly one million young people across the UK are struggling to get a foot in the door.
Alan Milburn’s government-commissioned interim report helped diagnose the issues that have led to the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) reaching one in eight. But what do young people themselves think?
To understand this cohort’s perspective, Reed surveyed 2,000 UK adults aged 16 to 24. This group included a mix of people in either employment, education, or training, plus some who are NEET. The questions covered a variety of areas related to their experiences of trying to find employment, ranging from the barriers young people face through to what changes they believe will improve access to employment.
The responses present a picture of young people who want to work, but who are running into barriers that aren’t easily removed.
How long does it take young people to find work?
Reed’s survey found that any characterisation that young people are workshy is hugely inaccurate. This group wants to work and is putting in a lot of effort to find employment, education, or training.
This has required patience, given how many applications 16 to 24 year olds are having to make. Of those who have applied for a job, apprenticeship, work placement, or internship in the past year (68%), the average number of applications respondents have made within the past 12 months is 17. For just over one fifth of respondents (22%), the number of applications they made exceeded 20.
Naturally, requiring this number of applications extends the amount of time it takes to find employment, education, or training. On average, respondents spent nearly five months looking for work or securing their current job or education placement.
While the current state of the overall labour market is lengthening the time is takes every professional to find employment, there are unique barriers standing between young people and work.
The no experience, no job paradox
When asked about the barriers that have prevented them from finding work more quickly, respondents highlighted the ‘no experience, no job’ paradox.
Nearly a third (29%) cited having a lack of work experience as an obstacle they’d encountered, while 24% pointed to entry-level roles that demanded previous experience. Additionally, when asked about hiring processes in which they’d participated, 40% of respondents said they were specifically rejected due to a lack of experience.
Aligned to this, the number of available jobs is also having an impact. Some 28% of respondents said there aren't enough suitable jobs. This is both an overall reflection on the wider job market, plus emphasises the squeeze AI and automations is placing on entry-level positions. It’s this circumstance that has prompted Reed CEO and Chairman, James Reed, to call for tax policy to “back humans, tax robots”.
This catch-22 scenario epitomises the struggle that young people are facing. With tough job market meaning that many experienced professionals actively are looking for work, employers are favouring these types of people over those who have had fewer opportunities to prove themselves.
The personal impact on young people
The consequences of this struggle go well beyond a stalled job search. Failure to find employment, education, or training is morale sapping for young people.
Naturally, almost half (48%) of those surveyed said that financial pressure has affected them while looking for work. But the impact goes beyond financial security: 44% reported increased stress or anxiety, while 37% said their confidence has dropped due to the drudgery of consistently having applications rejected.
It’s this loss of confidence that was highlighted in the ‘Young People and Work: Interim Report’ by Alan Milburn. “Every month a young person spends detached from education or work adds cost,” he said, adding: “there is a long-term scarring effect which being NEET exacts on a young life.”
Their experience is also shaping how young people see their prospects more broadly. Almost half (46%) believe the opportunities available to them are worse than those available to previous generations.
How to find this ‘missing generation’
The night is darkest before the dawn. Despite the gloominess of this research into 16-to-24-year-olds’ prospects, there are signs that the situation can improve.
Reed’s latest report, ‘The missing generation 2026’, showcases innovative ways in which employers are already creating opportunities for young people. Examples from BT Group, BAE Systems, and Evri highlight how these organisations are providing pathways into work for 16 to 24 year olds.
The report also acknowledges that there is only so much employers can do: the government also needs to make structural changes to improve this cohort’s life prospects.
Young people are optimistic about the impact of this type of reform. Some 63% of them believe an exemption on employer National Insurance contributions, whether for the entire working population or only under-25s, would improve their chances of getting or keeping a job.
The fact that this generation’s plight is being recognised offers hope within itself. It creates momentum, with a range of organisations, including Reed, focusing on solutions to this challenge.
To find out more on the strategies and tactics your organisation can use to help contribute to setting young people on their career path, download ‘The missing generation 2026’ now.
