28/05/2026
It genuinely saddens me reading that youth unemployment in the UK is predicted to rise to 1.25 million.
Behind those numbers are real young people many lacking confidence, direction, opportunity and belief in themselves and before people jump in with “we lived through hard times too” yes, many generations did, but this world, young people are growing up in today, is completely different.
Constant comparison through social media.
Pressure to succeed earlier.
Higher living costs.
Mental health struggles.
Less community.
Less face-to-face interaction.
Families simply trying to survive financially.
I also personally think raising the employment age to 16 was a mistake.
At 14, many young people are eager to earn money, gain independence and feel useful. They want responsibility. They want purpose. They want to feel grown up.
By 16, some have already drifted.
Peer pressure kicks in.
Confidence drops.
Anxiety builds.
Bad habits form.
Suddenly the leap into employment feels huge.
I also think many employers are now hesitant to take the risk on younger staff.
Training takes time.
Insurance costs money.
Mistakes happen.
Businesses are under pressure too, I know as I’m one of them
But if we as employers stop giving young people that first opportunity… then who will?
How will they learn those core life skills?
Turning up on time.
Communicating properly.
Handling pressure.
Teamwork.
Responsibility.
Resilience.
Confidence.
These things are often learned through real life experience, not classrooms.
And while benefits are absolutely there for people who genuinely need support, I do think generational dependency on benefits can sometimes create cycles that are hard to break.
If young people grow up never really seeing stable employment, routine, purpose or ambition around them, then work can start to feel distant or unattainable rather than normal and achievable.
That’s not about judging people life is complicated and many families face real struggles, but I do think society needs to focus far more on building this generation by giving opportunities, mentoring and pathways into work from a younger age.
Yes, some young people will disappoint you.
Some won’t stay.
Some will make mistakes.
In my experience that’s the same regardless of a persons age. Some will absolutely flourish if someone simply gives them a chance. You might even find a diamond.
I will always remember my very first job at Carricks Coffee Shop in Comrie. I was only 11 years old. At the end of a long shift, once the customers had gone home and the lights were dimmed, Liz allowed me to choose a piece of cake and a can of juice.
Sitting there in the quiet after working hard all day, eating that cake knowing I had earned it myself, gave me a sense of pride, independence and self-worth that has stayed with me my whole life.
I honestly think every young person deserves the chance to experience that feeling.
Every experienced adult was once an inexperienced young person that somebody chose to believe in ❤️
