Youth Employment Challenges and Government Initiatives

Government initiatives aim to compel young individuals to either “earn or learn” to avoid benefit reductions, as part of efforts to integrate them into the workforce and stimulate economic expansion. Data from official sources indicates that almost one million young individuals were not engaged in education, employment, or training during the period spanning July to September. The government has announced increased funding for job centres and mental health services to facilitate employment. Conversely, prominent business figures have expressed concerns that increased employer National Insurance contributions and minimum wage mandates will diminish their capacity to generate additional job opportunities. The BBC conducted interviews with young individuals who have not yet commenced their careers, alongside others who cited various reasons for departing the workforce. Hassan, a 20-year-old from Birmingham, completed his A levels in 2022 and has remained unemployed since that time. “This year has been kind of a constant struggle. I want to get a job but how do I get a job? And how do I write the right CV? And how do I apply for things?” The King’s Trust is providing him with assistance to address these challenges. Due to the Covid pandemic, Hassan did not take his GCSE exams, and he described his initial experience with formal examinations at the age of 18 as “overwhelming”. “I realised what I had been calling ‘stress’ for many years was actually anxiety. I had been carrying it with me for so long,” he said. “There’s a lot of talk these days about mental health. But a lot of people think it’s overrepresented… that makes you feel uncertain about trying to identify these problems you deal with in your daily life.” According to the government’s Get Britain Working initiative, areas experiencing the most significant unemployment rates are slated to receive enhanced NHS assistance, encompassing more mental health specialists. Hassan’s declining mental health during his last year of school led him to postpone university applications; however, the increasing expense of tuition fees now makes him question its suitability. “There’s this thing that is still sold to us, it’s the idea that you should get good grades, and go to university, and get a job, and get a house, and start a family, but that’s not how it is. It’s not happening for our generation.” Amy Wilkes, 23, from Coventry, holds a degree in criminology, policing, and investigation, yet reports receiving no replies to her job applications. “It’s really frustrating, soul-destroying and gutting,” stated Amy, who has dedicated over a year to volunteering with the witness service. “It is very hard to find a job, let alone a career,” she commented. Her most recent job application was for a role in victim support, but she was informed that her experience was insufficient. “What more can I give? I have a relevant degree and lots of volunteering experience,” she questioned. She informed the BBC that her morale sometimes dips, and she experiences occasional emotional difficulties, particularly because “applying for loads of jobs is draining”. The work and pensions secretary has stated that young individuals who decline employment opportunities will face benefit reductions. Amy indicated that if her benefits were withdrawn, she would find herself “in a tight spot,” though she would remain “open to any experiences really because it will all help”. “I really want to work, but it’s finding the work that’s hard. There isn’t enough support in helping people find further support, and work.” Kiarna, 18, from Birmingham, reported that her difficulties in securing employment commenced during sixth form, where she felt misunderstood due to her learning difficulties and mental health challenges. “I went to college… but I felt like they didn’t understand me, they would moan at me, have a go at me. They didn’t understand that for someone with learning difficulties it’s really hard to learn stuff. It takes longer to make it click in your head,” she explained. Kiarna also noted that the absence of support and structure following her completion of formal education presented an obstacle to finding employment. She is currently receiving assistance from the Kings Trust. “My day-to-day was watching my family members go to work and go to college and sitting there trying to work out what my next step was,” she recounted. “For kids who have mental health issues, as soon as you stop going to college you don’t know what’s going to happen next. It affects you really badly.“ “The government should listen and hear young people clearly… and say they will put in more effort to get young people to work, not sanction them.” Fiona Button, 48, a London resident, exited the workforce a decade ago to raise her three children, having encountered difficulties securing suitable childcare. “Frankly, I’d love to go out and get a job,” Fiona stated, mentioning her tentative search for part-time or freelance copywriting roles. However, she noted that “domestic responsibilities are not things that go away,” and she lacks anyone to assist with childcare. Her partner manages a business employing 150 individuals, which consumes a significant portion of his time, and both sets of their parents have passed away. Fiona suggested that if she were to secure employment, she might ultimately incur costs to work due to nanny expenses. “Childcare is expensive and it’s easier and less hassle if I do it myself because there are fewer moving parts to co-ordinate.” Specifically, school holidays and periods of illness intensify the difficulty of obtaining adaptable childcare arrangements. Andrew Bullock, a resident of Coventry, opted to retire from his teaching profession six years prior, at the age of 55. “It no longer satisfied me and I disliked having to be managed by people far younger than me,” commented Andrew, who is now 61. “Since I stopped working, I have used my time to care for family and friends, carry out voluntary work and spend more time travelling overseas.” Andrew currently dedicates more time to visiting his mother, who resides in a care home, and is scheduled to start caring for his granddaughter next year when his daughter concludes her maternity leave and returns to work. Andrew owns several rental properties and personally handles their maintenance. He believes the government cannot entice him back into employment. He states that he lives “pretty well” due to his inexpensive hobbies and possessing “enough income to live on from property rentals and some of my pension”. “I’m much happier now, doing what I love,” Andrew concluded. Matthew Pocock, 48, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has been unable to work since acquiring long Covid in 2020. Holding a doctorate in science, he previously served as a research scientist at the University of Newcastle. He reported now struggling with household chores, “even things like emptying the dishwasher or hanging up clothes,” and experiencing exhaustion and “quite severe brain fog.” He further stated, “I get about two hours a day where I’m well enough to do something.” Matthew explained that his profession previously required demanding mental activities like coding and reviewing academic papers, but he now finds it challenging to concentrate for extended durations. “Half an hour or so, then my brain has just gone to mush again,” he remarked. Matthew informed the BBC that he had attempted to apply for jobs but found the mental demands overwhelming. He indicated that his exhaustion would prevent him from undertaking physical labor, such as stacking shelves, yet remaining at home had been “quite boring to be honest”. “My hope is that I recover and then can reboot some kind of career, and take a much better part in our family life,” he expressed. This report was compiled by Lucy Acheson, Kris Bramwell, Faarea Masud, Deborah Weitzmann, and Josh McMinn. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.