By Richard Partington
Publication Date: 2025-11-15 16:00:00
Youth unemployment is at its highest level since the Covid pandemic as younger people bear the brunt of a deepening slowdown in the UK labor market.
Excluding the peak in fall 2020, when the country entered its second pandemic lockdown, the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds is at 15.3%, its highest level in a decade.
There are a variety of reasons why young people are struggling to find work – including the lasting scars of the Covid pandemic, increasing mental health problems, the rise of artificial intelligence and tax increases. Here we dive into the details.
Economic weakness
The British economy is falling short of its potential. Persistent inflation, elevated borrowing costs, subdued consumer demand and Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade wars are all contributing, while fiscal uncertainty hasn’t helped. This background deters employers from hiring new employees.
Young people tend to suffer the most when the economy is bad. The reasons are brutal, but…
