Where have all the first jobs gone? – podcast

More than a million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. They are the Neets, and according to a new government report it’s a growing problem among 16- to 24-year-olds. Across Europe, young people took a hit during the Covid pandemic, but while other countries have recovered, Britain hasn’t.

Sammy Gecsoyler is a Guardian reporter and has been speaking to Neets – some of whom have applied for thousands of jobs – to try to find out what is going wrong. He hears how AI and remote job applications are affecting their job prospects and leaving them demoralised.

Annie Kelly speaks to Hannah, a 24-year-old who came from a small rural town but is an Oxford graduate who won a bursary to study there. She says she has found finding a job almost impossible. Hannah says the constant rejection takes a toll, but also feels all her hard work at school, college and university has been for nothing. Her brother, who is 27, is in the same boat, she says. Divya Jyoti, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, explains where the starter jobs have gone and what needs to be done to support young people and change the jobs market.