The United Kingdom is facing a severe youth unemployment crisis. Recent surveys show that many young people are uninterested in jobs that pay less than £40,000 (approximately $45,500) per year.
Career advisor Graham Cowley presented this finding during a session in the House of Lords. He stated that many unemployed young people, who are online all day, refuse to work for less than £40,000 a year.
Although some members of the House of Lords questioned the claim, Cowley emphasized that, while difficult to believe, it reflects reality. He stressed the need to reach young people earlier and instill the mindset that change is necessary to achieve what they want in life. This highlights the rising expectations of the younger generation regarding job selection.
According to data from the U.K. Office for National Statistics (ONS), as of the third quarter of last year, the number of NEETs (young people aged 16–24 who are not in employment, education, or training) stood at 946,000. This is the highest figure since 2013, when the impact of the global financial crisis was still lingering. Among them, 550,000 were young men, accounting for 58%.
Lord David Leonard Watts defended the youth, saying that if income is too low and there is no sense of a future, young people are likelier to lower their aspirations.
By contrast, former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride stirred controversy by blaming the sharp rise in male youth unemployment on pornography and online gaming.
These comments reflect the complexity of the youth unemployment issue. Of the 946,000 NEETs, approximately 595,000 are considered economically inactive and have given up job hunting entirely, while only about 392,000 remain unemployed but are still actively seeking work.
The U.K. government has been making various policy efforts to address the situation. It mainly focuses on helping young people adapt to the labor market through education and training programs and collaborating with businesses to create new jobs. However, many young people continue to prefer high salaries and job stability, suggesting the problem will take time to resolve.
Comments0