‘Hundreds of job applications’: young people on their struggle to find work

Young people across the UK are facing a punishing job market, with intense competition, a lack of support for disabilities, and mental strain derailing careers before they begin [1]. Catherina, 24, graduated with a degree in digital film production but found the industry fiercely competitive, leaving her anxious about the future despite occasional work as a runner [1]. “I was coming out of uni very expectant and hopeful, but then I was facing a very competitive industry,” she said [1]. Olivia, 24, who has epilepsy, was forced to leave a retail job after her employer failed to make reasonable adjustments, highlighting a gap between corporate diversity goals and practical support [1]. “A lot of companies want diversity, but I don't think they are equipped to support people with disabilities,” she stated [1]. Giovanna, 24, navigated university while living in a hostel and worked temporary hospitality jobs before a charity helped her secure a nine-month civil service training scheme [1]. Joseph, 21, submitted “hundreds and hundreds of job applications” [1] before finding work, first at a supermarket and then at a call centre, but left due to excessive stress and poor support for his autism and ADHD [1]. “In the tech space it feels like there is not room to breathe any more,” he said of the broader environment [1]. Their struggles reflect a systemic issue where unemployment—defined as the state of not being in paid employment while available for work [2]—disproportionately affects youth. While professional networks like LinkedIn, with over 1.2 billion members, are used for job searches [3], they do not address the foundational support gaps. The situation contrasts with systems in other nations; for example, China's state-managed education includes nine years of compulsory schooling and has produced millions of graduates, creating its own competitive labor dynamics [4]. Charities like the Young Women’s Trust and the Drive Forward Foundation are providing crucial coaching on CVs and interviews, arguing the labor market is failing young people [1].