Lost Generation”: How Young People Are Battling Job Scarcity

More than one million young people under 24 are currently caught in a jobless limbo, and the experts are calling them a “lost generation.” The job market is tough, and the stories of five young individuals navigating this challenging landscape shed light on their struggles and resilience.

Take Zaynah, for instance. At just 24, she’s applied for over 200 jobs since leaving college a year ago, but guess what? Not a single employer has reached out to her. Yup, you heard it right. She’s now part of a six-week charity scheme called Spear, which is helping her regain her confidence. Zaynah had a health condition, eczema, that kept her from pursuing her passion for nail art. She’s always dreamed of working in makeup and has been applying to retail positions in that field. “I never worked before… I wasn’t very confident at all,” she shares. But now, she feels a significant shift. “I can hold conversations better now,” she adds, reflecting on how her experiences have shaped her. Yet, she acknowledges the barrier of experience. “Some people our age don’t know what they want to do, that’s what is holding them back,” she says.

Then we have Luke, 23, who studied product design at Central St Martin’s University. He’s sent out more than 400 applications but hasn’t landed a job yet. “The application process is quite vile,” Luke expresses, detailing how redundantly he has to enter the same information multiple times. It’s disheartening when you enter the job market, thinking your degree will open doors, only to find out that jobs are scarce. “The amount of rejections definitely make you depressed,” Luke confesses, sharing how he started claiming Universal Credit last March. “Entering into the job centres is really depressing,” he admits, feeling a deep sense of rejection. It’s a harsh reality; he’s overqualified for basic jobs like stacking shelves but underqualified for the ones he wants. “I’ve been rejected for cleaning roles, barista jobs, and even waitstaff positions,” he laments.

Tarun, an 18-year-old, faced a setback when he had to travel to India after his grandmother passed away, interrupting his studies. “I started doing plumbing level two… but I had to go to India so they kicked me out,” he recounts. Since returning, he’s been stuck in a loop, applying for various roles but continually facing the experience barrier. “I felt trapped… I just felt lost,” he admits. Motivating himself, he turned to rapping to cope. “I wrote songs, I started rapping to entertain myself. That really helped me,” he says, reflecting on how creativity provided him with solace during tough times.

Eloise, 24, has a first-class degree in English and a master’s in creative writing, yet she finds herself in hospitality, a far cry from her aspirations. Despite her extensive volunteering and work experience, she’s had only four interviews. “Two jobs ghosted me, and only one offered feedback, saying I needed more experience,” she explains. Applying in Stirling and Edinburgh, she’s even used her brother’s address to broaden her chances but to no avail. With the year drawing to a close, Eloise fears being forced to move back to her village and live a minimum-wage life, feeling trapped. “The only person from my masters who has a relevant job went back home to America for it,” she sadly shares.

Lastly, there’s Clover, 20, who spent three years following all the right advice in search of work. “I got lucky,” he says, recalling how a friend vouched for him at a retail job. Even though he’s on a zero-hours contract, he feels grateful. “It’s something and it’s better than what most people have,” he acknowledges. However, he wants more. “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 reflects. Despite the support from colleges and universities, it often feels like it’s never enough.

A recent report indicates that the education, health, and welfare systems are no longer fit for purpose when it comes to preparing young people for the adult world. It suggests that the education system is failing to produce young people ready for work, as each graduate role now attracts around 140 applications.

These stories highlight a grim reality where young individuals are left feeling disillusioned in a job market that seems to have turned its back on them. Will things change soon? Or will the “lost generation” continue to struggle in silence?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber