Age and Unemployment: What’s Really Going On?

There’s been a clear shift in the UK labour market.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)  show that unemployment has risen from 4.7% to 4.8%, vacancies have fallen. There are now record numbers of people aged over 65 remaining in work. At the same time, younger workers have growing barriers to entry.

The labour market is tightening, but not evenly. 

For many young people, the traditional pathways into employment are no longer as accessible as they once were.

Tasks that used to provide a learning ground for first-time employees are now being absorbed by technology or restructured into higher-skill positions. At the same time, increases in employer costs, such as National Insurance contributions as well as high and complicated agency costs, have made some businesses more cautious about expanding their workforce and the speed of which they are doing it.

For young people, this combination translates into fewer chances to gain real-world experience, longer job searches, and eventually leading to slower career progression. 

For employers, it means missing out on an entire generation of motivated, adaptable workers whilst still dealing with high costs

Being strong believers in the future of work, at Pioneering People we’re dedicated to make a change to this climate.  

Our platform exists to create accessible, flexible, and fairly paid routes into work. We partner with businesses that value enthusiasm and reliability as much as experience, allowing young people to build their confidence and professional networks through meaningful jobs.

Whether it’s a short-term project, a hospitality shift, or an events role, each opportunity offers something the data can’t capture: a first step forward.