Over One Million Under-24s Jobless as Graduates Face Humiliating Rejection
Young individuals across the UK are confronting significant hurdles in the job market, with a considerable proportion describing a demoralising application process and a lack of opportunities. This situation has led some experts to describe those affected as a “lost generation.”
Zaynah, 24, has submitted over 200 job applications since leaving college a year ago, yet has received no responses. She attributes this to a perceived lack of experience, despite working to build confidence through a charity scheme. Similarly, Luke, 23, a product design graduate from Central St Martin’s University, has applied for more than 400 positions without success.
The Catch-22 of Experience
Luke highlighted the “vile” online application processes, which often demand repetitive entry of identical information. He also described the disillusionment of university graduates who, despite holding degrees, find themselves in a Catch-22: overskilled for basic jobs like shelf-stacking but lacking the specific experience required for entry-level professional roles. Luke recounted being rejected for cleaning, barista, cafe, receptionist, and waiting positions, receiving only one interview for a janitor role that ultimately led nowhere.
“The amount of rejections definitely make you depressed. It’s humiliating,” Luke stated, detailing his experience claiming Universal Credit and the “sense of rejection” he felt within job centres.
Tarun, 18, found his studies interrupted by a family bereavement in India. Upon his return, he faced a continuous struggle to find work or education, encountering a “loop” of rejection due to his lack of experience. He resorted to rapping as a self-motivating coping mechanism.
Eloise, 24, with first-class undergraduate and master’s degrees in English and creative writing, has found herself in hospitality, despite extensive volunteering and work experience. She reported only four interviews, with one entry-level position citing a need for “more experience.” Eloise expressed concern about being forced to move back to her rural village and enter a “minimum wage-life.”
Clover, 20, secured a retail job on a zero-hours contract through a friend’s referral after three years of searching. While acknowledging he was “lucky,” he noted the prevalence of low-paid roles and a general lack of replies to applications, even with comprehensive CVs and volunteering experience.
