Why Are Many Young People Struggling to Get Jobs?

For decades, young people were told a simple story, work hard, get an education, and good jobs will follow. That promise rooted in the idea of meritocracy shaped the dreams and decisions of an entire generation. 

But today, many young people are discovering that the story doesn’t quite hold up anymore. Across the UK and beyond, the connection between education and employment is fraying. 

Even those with degrees, internships, and all the “right” soft skills find themselves locked out of the job market. The issue isn’t just that there are fewer jobs, it’s that the system itself is failing to deliver on its promise.

A degree isn’t a golden ticket anymore

Getting a university degree was once seen as the ultimate key to success. But today, many graduates are struggling to land even basic roles. 

It’s not uncommon to hear stories of university-educated job seekers being rejected from supermarket or warehouse jobs not because they’re underqualified, but because they’re seen as overqualified or even a risk. 

Employers worry they’ll leave as soon as something better comes along. This shift points to a deeper problem: the social contract that links education to opportunity is breaking down. A degree no longer guarantees stability, let alone advancement.

“Employability” and the growing burden on young people

In today’s labour market, the buzzword is “employability.” Young people are expected to be job-ready, skilled, adaptable, and professional, before they even get a chance to prove themselves. 

But even those who tick all the boxes often find themselves stuck. The reason? The market is saturated.

Over the past two decades, the number of graduates has grown sharply, but job growth hasn’t kept up. The result is intense competition, with many young people forced into jobs that don’t match their skills or worse, no job at all.

Adding to the pressure are hiring algorithms that filter applicants before a human even sees their CV, entry-level jobs disappearing due to automation, and fewer opportunities as companies cut costs and face economic uncertainty.

Structural inequality still rules the game

It’s easy to blame young people for not trying hard enough, but the truth is far more complex. Getting a job still heavily depends on where you’re from, who you know, and what you can afford. 

Access to quality education, strong networks, and support systems remains uneven, shaped by class, race, region, and even the reputation of the university you attended.

This creates a paradox: young people are told they must work hard and prepare for success, but the very system that should reward their effort often punishes them instead.

Can policy fix the problem?

The UK government has introduced initiatives like the youth guarantee scheme and the Get Britain Working white paper to address youth unemployment. But many of these programmes offer basic training and apprenticeships, leaving out those who already did everything “right” but still can’t find work.

In some cases, well-meaning policies may even make things worse. By tightening regulations without offering real support, they risk making entry points into the job market even harder to access.

New approach – Shared responsibility

Solving the youth employment crisis requires a shift in mindset from putting the burden solely on young people to a shared responsibility between employers, educational institutions, and policymakers.

This includes:

• Creating new roles tailored to young talent, not just seasoned professionals.
  
• Embedding fairer hiring practices, like blind recruitment and diverse interview panels.
  
• Strengthening partnerships between universities and industries to align education with real-world job demands.
  
• Using technology to connect young people with opportunities—through apps, dashboards, and personalized career guidance.
  

Above all, we must recognise that education should be more than just a route to employment, it should be a foundation for building a fairer, more inclusive society. 

Until then, many young people will continue to feel like they followed all the rules, only to find the game was rigged from the start.