Young individuals have shared with their careers that they find it more difficult than ever to secure employment, leaving some recent graduates upset when rejected even for positions at grocery stores.
The government states that increasing employment among younger individuals is a top priority; however, UK job openings are currently at their highest levels.
the lowest point in almost four years
.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), representing grocery stores, informed the career young individuals would suffer most as companies scale down their recruitment efforts because of increasing expenses for employers and forthcoming alterations to worker protections.
Faisa Ali Tarabi, who is 24 years old and hails from Bolton, mentioned that she went through Aldi’s hiring procedure but was informed later that there wasn’t an appropriate position available.
She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from the University of Salford and a master’s in management from Manchester Metropolitan University.
When she completed her master’s degree in January 2024, she began searching for employment and reckons she has submitted applications for approximately 2,000 positions.
I haven’t had employment for 15 months, and frankly, I’m not only seeking jobs related to my degrees anymore. For now, I’m aiming to secure anything I can find.
Faisa mentions that she submitted her application for a position at an Aldi warehouse back in March 2024. However, she presented an email from CareerAn stating: “You’ve performed quite admirably up until now; nonetheless, we presently lack a vacant role that aligns perfectly with what you’re seeking.”
It stated “not all hope is gone” and mentioned that recruiters would reach out again within the year if they found an applicable opening. Since then, she hasn’t received any updates. Her career coach has requested a statement from Aldi.
In February, we informed you that
More individuals aged between 16 and 24 were not employed.
, more education or training will be completed by the end of 2024 compared to any time within the last eleven years.
That figure represents 13.4%, which is nearly one person out of every seven within that age group, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Faisa was among the many individuals who left comments.
In this report from CareerNews on TikTok
stating that their lack of job was not because they hadn’t tried hard enough.
“One user mentioned, ‘I look every single day, but there are no job openings,’ ” he stated.
Someone else mentioned: “Completed my university degree but haven’t been able to secure even one job related to what I studied.”
A third commenter wrote: “The youth aren’t choosy; they can’t even find jobs as toilet cleaners.”
According to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of available jobs in the UK dropped to 781,000 during the initial quarter of this year.
A number of specialists think that the increasing expense associated with employee wages is causing companies to hesitate when considering recruiting additional personnel.
In April, the rate for employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) increased along with the minimum wage for various age categories.
Business organizations have likewise appealed for
immediate modifications to the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill
due to worries it might affect recruitment.
On Tuesday, as the House of Lords examines the new legislation under scrutiny, company executives will face changes.
required to provide a zero-hour worker with a guaranteed-hours contract
depending on the number of hours they accumulate over a span of 12 weeks.
According to a BRC survey, one of the primary concerns for retail human resources directors is that this could significantly complicate efforts to provide employees with part-time positions.
The survey covered HR directors from 30 companies that collectively employ 585,000 retail staff members.
More than half of the respondents indicated that the modification in legislation would lead to a decrease in employee count within their companies. Additionally, 61% believed that this new law would lessen the adaptability of employment options.
Helen Dickinson, CEO of BRC, stated: “In the past five years, approximately 250,000 jobs have vanished from the retail sector, with numerous big-name retailers planning additional layoffs due to heightened labor expenses that came into effect in April.”
She mentioned that part-time positions had decreased by 200,000 since 2017.
She mentioned that these positions, crucial for providing access to employment for students, caregivers, and those returning to the workforce, are expected to face the biggest challenges.
The Employment Rights Bill as it stands might end up having an opposite effect, slowing down recruitment processes or even more alarmingly, causing retail employment figures to decline even further.
In November, we had a conversation with Amy Wilkes.
, 23, from Coventry, who faced challenges in finding employment after completing a degree in criminology, policing, and investigation.
She mentions that she applied for positions at supermarkets but received no reply.
She mentions, ‘It felt insurmountable.’ What truly pained her was the lack of response as there was no feedback to indicate what she was doing incorrectly.
Following seven months of searching, Amy finally landed a position as a support worker, set to begin in July.
“It was an unreal experience when I discovered it. I was completely stunned, deeply moved yet extremely excited,” she shares.
The top tip she offers to those searching for employment is “never surrender.”
She mentions, ‘I understand it’s extremely difficult, however, there is a position available for you somewhere.’
Pondering over what I can contribute boosted my self-assurance by making me reflect on who I am and recognizing my worth and capabilities that I can present to an organization.
A representative from the government stated that their latest initiative called the “youth guarantee” ensures that all individuals aged between 18 to 21 years old in England have access to either an apprenticeship program, high-quality training and educational chances, or assistance in finding employment.
The statement indicated that their choices, such as increasing employers’ National Insurance Contributions, were essential for “stabilizing public finances” in order to support services like the NHS.
They mentioned that businesses were able to apply for NICs relief from employers for certain qualified employees, such as those below the age of 21 and apprentices who are younger than 25.
Here are six professional tips to help you land a job:
1. Look for options outside a 40-mile perimeter
– Working remotely, in a hybrid setup, or with flexibility can extend job opportunities farther afield.
2. Utilize keywords during your search queries
– Algorithms online will detect your everyday searches and deliver similar content to you.
3. Do not wait for a job opening to be announced.
– Reach out to a manager at a company that catches your eye because you never know what possibilities could arise.
4. Sell your skills
– Leverage social media sites such as LinkedIn to highlight your abilities and background. Additional platforms like X and Instagram can also be effective for presenting yourself to prospective employers.
5. Get learning
– As you search for employment, look for opportunities to bridge the gaps in your resume through free courses, volunteer work, or job-shadowing experiences.
6. Revel in the little victories
– Establish individual goals, such as applying for a specific quantity of jobs within a week or sending out a set number of cold emails, and celebrate small achievements to maintain motivation.
You can go through complete advice from career professionals here.
here
.
- What impact will the modifications to employees’ rights have on you?
- Chambers of commerce push for revisions to labor protection legislation