Young People’s Job Market Challenges Ahead of Budget

A young worker has stated that the job market presents significant challenges for individuals seeking employment, in anticipation of the chancellor’s upcoming Budget. Cheyenne Dawson, aged 20, experienced discouragement after her post-college job applications frequently resulted in rejection emails citing her insufficient experience. Ms Dawson, a resident of Walsall, subsequently enrolled in the Fairer Futures programme. This 12-week initiative, hosted within Mid-counties Co-operative supermarkets, offers trainees personalised support, individual mentoring, and practical work experience. The founder of the programme urged the government to boost investment in skills development to reduce youth unemployment, prior to Wednesday’s Budget. This programme targets individuals aged 18 to 24 and operates in collaboration with Miss Macaroon, a social enterprise food retailer that has provided hundreds of training opportunities for young people in Walsall. Following completion of the scheme, thirty-two trainees have secured employment, with nearly two-thirds of these individuals having no prior experience in paid work. Rosie Ganday, co-founder of Miss Macaroon, stated, “Youth unemployment in the West Midlands is still really high.” She further commented, “Social enterprises like ourselves really do need that support and investment which can bring commercial partners on board and allow us to scale up the work we do.” “The mayor, Richard Parker, has committed to creating 20,000 new training and job placements for young people, we need funding to enable that to continue,” she added. She also emphasized the necessity for the funding to be directed at local needs. She explained, “A young person in Walsall will need something different to a person living in Birmingham and Coventry.” Ms Dawson remarked, “The biggest things I’ve gained so far… is improving my communication and especially my confidence.” She continued, “I was nervous when I started in the store, but feel excited every day.” She concluded, “It’s tough out there. You’ve only got to go on TikTok and see videos of people who’ve applied for multiple jobs and keep getting turned down.” Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that approximately one in ten individuals aged 18 to 24 in Walsall are currently receiving out-of-work benefits, representing the highest proportion recorded since October 2021. To date, the ‘Your Co-op’ store situated in Walsall town centre has extended full-time employment opportunities to three trainees. Azhar Hussain, 25, shared that he acquired fundamental retail skills at his father’s restaurant and, with ongoing assistance, aspires to become a leader in the industry. He stated, “I was studying at college before my journey here. It’s been incredible, I’ve learned how to grow in confidence and come out of my comfort zone.” Hussain added, “I’d like my own business, like another Co-op or clothing brand shop, that’s what I’m focused on.” Prior to the Budget, considerable speculation has arisen concerning a potential increase in employers’ National Insurance (NI) contributions, a measure that business owners contend would hinder staff recruitment and job creation. Conversely, the Labour party has committed to implementing a “youth guarantee” to provide additional apprenticeships, coupled with a new national jobs and careers service, “to prevent young people becoming excluded from the world of work at a young age”. Similar to Ms Ganday, Liz Kendall, the secretary of state for work and pensions, advocates for a more localized strategy to enhance the skills of unemployed individuals. However, the Conservative party has stated that the government needs to “wake up” to the “huge cost” that these reforms would impose on taxpayers. Ms Ganday established Miss Macaroon in 2011 with an initial capital of £500 and a passion for baking. Since then, approximately 230 individuals have secured employment through its training schemes, which have expanded into the retail sector and are soon to include the construction sector. She indicated that new grant funding and tax relief would incentivize and empower businesses to collaborate closely with social enterprises, thereby amplifying efforts to reduce youth unemployment rates. She concluded, “The region has a rich skills economy in manufacturing, in the tech space as well – but for young people we hear all about a mental health tsunami coming, so providing funding for opportunities is one thing that’s needed, it’s really important.” Updates from BBC Birmingham are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding the BBC’s policy on external linking is available.