A growing number of young Britons are finding themselves in a precarious employment situation, struggling to secure jobs that align with their educational achievements. Despite holding degrees and qualifications, many are applying for hundreds of roles, facing prolonged periods of rejection, and considering careers far below their academic level. Experts are raising concerns about a potential "lost generation" of individuals under the age of 24 who are neither employed nor engaged in training that could lead to future opportunities.
Zaynah, a 24-year-old who completed college a year ago, has submitted applications for over 200 jobs without receiving any responses. She is currently participating in a six-week program called Spear, designed to enhance her confidence. Zaynah aspires to work in makeup artistry but has found herself applying for retail positions. "I never worked before… I wasn't very confident at all. I was a very shy girl," she shared with BBC's Your Voice. "Now I feel like [there is] a big difference from what I was, and now I can be more confident, I feel like I can hold conversations better now. Back then I couldn't, I didn't know what to speak about and I was very shy."
She identifies a lack of experience as a significant hurdle. "I feel like in that way, it's restricting me and I'm not getting jobs. Some people our age don't know what they want to do, that's what is holding them back," Zaynah added.
Luke, a 23-year-old who studied product design at Central St Martin's University, has encountered an even more arduous job search, having applied for over 400 positions without success. He described the application process as "vile," citing the repetitive nature of online forms that necessitate re-entering the same information. "Any normal person coming out of a university degree would think: 'Yes, I've got a degree. I am now open to all these starting, junior jobs'," Luke stated. "You find out they haven't got the finances or AI has just replaced a whole load of jobs."
The persistent rejections have had a notable impact on his mental well-being. "The amount of rejections definitely make you depressed. It's humiliating," he said. "I started [claiming] Universal Credit in March last year. Entering into the job centres is really depressing. I felt a sense of rejection. The fact that everything I've done means nothing, in this day and age it's useless."
Luke finds himself in a classic Catch-22 scenario: lacking the requisite experience for desired roles while being deemed overqualified for entry-level positions. "As you enter the job market that you want to go into, you don't have enough experience for that job. [And] you're overskilled for basic jobs, like stacking shelves… which I've done before. But once you've got that degree you are pushed aside as being overskilled," he explained. His job search has included rejections for roles such as cleaning, barista, general cafe work, hotel reception, and restaurant waiting staff. He recalled one instance where he had an interview for a janitor role, was informed he would be contacted, but never received a follow-up.
Tarun, 18, experienced a significant disruption to his studies when he traveled to India following his grandmother's passing. Upon his return, he struggled to find employment. "I started doing plumbing level two… but I had to go to India so they kicked me out. I had to go to India because of my grandma's death. When I came back, I didn't know what to do. It's been like a year," he recounted. He applied for numerous jobs and educational programs but consistently encountered the same barrier: a requirement for experience he did not possess. "I tried to do jobs as well… but they were like, 'you need experience' and I didn't have any experience. I felt trapped. It was like a loop, going over again and again. I just felt lost," Tarun said.
To cope with the isolation and frustration, Tarun began writing and performing rap music. "I didn't have anyone to motivate me, so I motivated myself. I was like: I'll start doing rapping. So I wrote songs, I started rapping to entertain myself. That really helped me," he shared.
Eloise, 24, holds a first-class undergraduate and master's degree in English and creative writing but has been unable to secure employment in her field. She has consequently taken on work in the hospitality sector. "Despite all my volunteering, work experience and degrees, I have had four interviews. I had a temp position at a pub, but none of the jobs are really what I want to do," she told BBC's Your Voice. "Two other jobs ghosted me and only one offered any feedback: an entry-level position told me I 'needed more experience'."
Eloise expressed concern about her future prospects. "I've been applying in Stirling and Edinburgh and putting my brother's Edinburgh address down so I can be considered, but there is nothing. I am worried if I cannot get employment by the end of this year I will have to move back to my village in the middle of nowhere and begin a minimum wage-life where I will be trapped," she stated. She noted that the only individual from her master's program who secured a relevant job had to return to their home country, America, to find it.
Clover, 20, spent three years diligently following job-seeking advice. He eventually found a job in retail through a friend's recommendation, but it is on a zero-hours contract, meaning his weekly hours are not guaranteed. "I got lucky. In the end it was a friend who worked there that vouched for me. It's a zero hours contract and it's fine. It's something and it's better than the majority of people have. But I'd like to be somewhere else, doing something else," Clover explained.
He pushed back against the notion that younger generations are unwilling to work. "I hear older people say younger people don't want to work, but it's because they are getting paid nothing for jobs they don't want to be in," he asserted. "I was on job sites and doing what I could to find work and nine times out of 10 I didn't get a reply back."
Colleges and universities provide support for students to craft CVs and optimize their job applications. However, even with extensive assistance and considerable volunteering experience, many young people find their efforts are "seemingly never enough." This persistent challenge highlights a growing disconnect between educational attainment and the availability of suitable employment opportunities for young Britons, potentially impacting future economic productivity and social mobility.
