Young people in the UK are facing an uphill battle securing their first jobs, a crisis fueled not only by a shrinking job market but also by a significant gap in workforce readiness following the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), nearly one million individuals aged 16 to 24 were classified as NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) between July and September 2025. This spike in youth joblessness has prompted the government to launch an independent review led by former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn. Of particular concern is the finding that approximately 600,000 of these unemployed youths are not actively seeking work.
The economic landscape is undoubtedly challenging. Artificial intelligence is displacing entry-level roles, and job vacancies have dropped nearly 10% year-on-year to 729,000. With 2.5 unemployed people now competing for every open vacancy—up from 1.8 the previous year—the market is fiercely competitive. The Institute for Student Employers reported that last year saw more than 1.2 million applications submitted for just 17,000 graduate roles.
However, experts and employers argue that economic headwinds are only half the story. There is a growing consensus that Generation Z is ill-prepared for the rigors of employment. Milburn noted that young people often lack practical work experience, and that school curriculums do not always align with the demands of the workplace.
Julie Leonard, Chief Impact Officer at the charity Shaw Trust, attributes this "readiness gap" to the isolation of the pandemic lockdowns. She suggests that virtual learning deprived those aged 20 to 24 of critical in-person socialization, missing out on essential soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and following instructions. Furthermore, Leonard highlights the decline of traditional part-time work for teenagers—such as paper routes or Saturday jobs—which previously served as a vital introduction to workplace discipline.
Major employers are already taking steps to bridge this skills gap. Big Four firms like PwC and KPMG have identified that their youngest recruits often lack essential workplace etiquette. In response, PwC began offering resilience training in 2025 to "toughen up" graduates, while KPMG launched sessions in 2023 focused on teamwork and presentation skills.
To navigate this difficult environment, Leonard advises young job seekers to abandon the modern, depersonalized strategy of mass-emailing AI-generated CVs. Instead, she advocates for a return to "old-school" tactics. She recommends that young people print out their resumes, visit local high streets, and walk into small businesses—such as cafes, bars, or independent shops—to ask for opportunities in person. This approach, she argues, builds the confidence and resilience needed to secure employment in a changed world.