From Oxford to Unemployment: The Harsh Reality Facing a Generation of Young Job Seekers

About 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in employment, education or training (NEET), a figure that could rise to 1.25 million by the early 2030s without urgent government action, according to Alan Milburn's report. This article shares the stories of young people who have been unemployed for over a year, struggling with the cost of living, mental health, and a job market that seems to have turned its back on them.

Thomas's Story: From Pub Manager to £1 Meals

Thomas, 24, lost his job as a pub manager in October 2024 and has applied for about 2,000 jobs since with no luck. Living on £311 a month in universal credit, he survives on seven £1 frozen meals a week and has stopped socializing because he can't afford it. He feels "life's just running away from you."

Hannah: An Oxford Graduate with Zero Job Offers

Hannah, 24, graduated from Oxford with a languages degree in 2024 but remains unemployed. She has been told to "lower her expectations" by her job coach and struggles to compete with candidates with more experience. "To come from literally the best-ranked university on the planet for my subject into zero jobs is a bit of a fall," she says.

The Impact of AI and Automation

AI is replacing entry-level jobs. Paul Clapp, a digital marketing agency director, stopped hiring apprentices after adopting AI tools like Claude. The number of entry-level jobs in the UK has dropped by almost a third since ChatGPT launched in 2022.

Barriers Nobody Counts: Transport and Housing

Poor public transport and high housing costs trap young people in rural areas. Leo Borowski, 24, with ADHD and autism, can't access jobs because buses run irregularly. He is in debt with water, gas, and electric bills.

A Call for a New Deal

Professor Howard Williamson says a New Deal for young people is needed, creating a dedicated youth jobs market with varied opportunities. Without it, the cycle of unemployment and hopelessness will continue.

Alan Milburn at the West Library Youth Employment Hub, north London. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

The number of Neets could reach 1.25 million by the early 2030s. Photograph: Mina Kim/Reuters

Entry-level jobs in the UK have dropped by almost a third since November 2022. Photograph: Susannah Ireland/The Guardian