The transition from education into employment is becoming increasingly uncertain for young people in the UK. For every young person not learning or earning, there is a unique story that is shaped by their individual circumstances, personal experiences, where they live, and wider structural challenges that can limit their ability to enter and progress in work. Our Work Foundation and Lancaster University report, Starting Out, examines how the nature of entry-level work has changed and the implications this has for young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), as well as for employers and the wider economy. Drawing on labour market data and case studies from Morecambe and Liverpool – a coastal town and city respectively in the North West of England – it explores the quality of opportunities available to young people, the barriers they face in accessing good work, and how local labour markets, young people’s experiences, and employer behaviours shape NEET rates. A YOUTH EMPLOYMENT DROUGHT Job vacancies have declined across the labour market, but far more sharply for young people. Analysis of Adzuna vacancy data shows ‘starter’ jobs – vacancies that would be accessible for someone entering the workforce for the first time – have fallen by 49% over the past decade, and 1.6 times faster than overall openings in the past year, particularly in sectors like retail, where remaining roles are often characterised by insecurity and limited progression. Competition for these roles is also intensifying. Across the UK, there is roughly one entry-level vacancy for every three NEET young people, with even greater pressure in regions such as the North East and East Midlands. Young people are not only competing with one another, but also with students, jobseekers, and older workers re-entering the labour market. A CHANGING OPPORTUNITY LANDSCAPE Opportunities for young people are unevenly distributed. Access to good quality work is shaped by qualifications, geography, and socio-economic background. Those with lower levels of formal education, or living in areas with weaker labour demand, are more likely to experience periods of unemployment or to enter roles with limited progression. At the same time, employers continue to report skills shortages across key sectors. This points to a disconnect between the opportunities available and the systems that support young people to access them, including education pathways, training provision, and careers guidance. 36 |
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