More than a million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training, according to a new government report. These individuals, known as Neets, represent a growing problem among 16- to 24-year-olds. While young people across Europe faced challenges during the Covid pandemic, other countries have recovered, but Britain has not.
The Human Cost of Rejection
Sammy Gecsoyler, a Guardian reporter, has been speaking to Neets to understand what is going wrong. Some have applied for thousands of jobs without success. Hannah, a 24-year-old Oxford graduate who won a bursary to study, describes finding a job as almost impossible. She says the constant rejection takes a toll and feels that all her hard work at school, college and university has been for nothing. Her 27-year-old brother is in the same situation.
Impact of AI and Remote Applications
Gecsoyler reports that AI and remote job applications are affecting young people's job prospects, leaving them demoralised. The shift to online applications has made it harder to stand out, and automated systems often filter out candidates before they reach a human recruiter.
Where Have the Starter Jobs Gone?
Divya Jyoti, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, explains that many entry-level jobs have disappeared or been restructured. She argues that the jobs market needs to change to support young people, with more investment in training and apprenticeship programmes.
