At 24 years old, Thomas, whose name has been changed, lives in Warrington and receives 311 British pounds in benefits each month. After paying his bills and buying dog food, he has only about 25 pounds left for himself.
Every week, he visits the Iceland supermarket to buy seven frozen meals, each costing one pound. Thomas expresses shame about purchasing enough food for the entire week at once.
"You walk in, buy seven meals, and the cashier definitely thinks you only eat one meal a day," he recounted.
His life has almost come to a standstill. When friends invite him out, he often declines, unable to afford the extra 30 pounds. Sometimes, he resorts to lying, claiming he needs to stay home to care for his dog.
"I just want a normal life, to meet people, to participate in activities without making excuses. I want to eat decent meals, buy slightly better toilet paper," Thomas said. "These are all very basic things."
Thomas has been constantly seeking new opportunities since losing his pub job, submitting applications online and directly to bars, and attending job fairs. However, all he has received are templated rejection emails or complete silence.
"When you were young, people told you that you would have a career and your own home. But that hasn't happened," he stated.
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George Bate (left) transitioned to truck driving training after graduating from university. Photo: The Guardian. |
A report on youth and employment, released in May by Alan Milburn, former UK Secretary of State for Labour, revealed that about one million Britons aged 16-24 fall into the NEET category – not in education, employment, or training. This number could rise to 1.25 million by the early 2030s if the government does not implement timely interventions.
This situation stems from various causes, including physical and mental health issues, a lack of qualifications, work experience, and training. Additionally, underdeveloped local economies, job scarcity, and limited transportation – particularly in small towns and rural areas – also pose significant barriers.
Howard Williamson, a professor of European youth policy at the University of South Wales, believes that cuts to support programs have weakened opportunities for young people to access stable training and employment.
Difficulties are not limited to those without university degrees. Hannah, 24, graduated with a language degree from Oxford University in the summer of 2024 but has yet to find employment.
On one occasion, she reached the final round of a recruitment process for a research institute in London, but the position was given to a candidate with 15 more years of experience than her.
"I had hoped things would be less difficult. From a university ranked among the world's best in its field, I emerged unemployed," Hannah said. "It was truly a letdown."
George Bate, 21, is training to be a heavy goods vehicle driver despite graduating with a degree in game design. "Many times, my application wasn't even considered," Bate stated.
Competition is increasingly fierce, partly due to technological advancements. Paul Clapp, co-founder and director of digital marketing company Priority Pixels in South Devon, said the business stopped hiring interns after integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations. He explained that AI now handles many repetitive tasks previously assigned to interns.
Ryan McKiernan, CEO of Fat Macy’s, warned that prolonged unemployment could push young people towards homelessness. According to The Big Issue, a street magazine sold by homeless individuals, the number of vendors aged 18-24 has increased by 60% since 2022, from 449 to 720 people.
By Huyen Trang
