Job opportunities for young people vary dramatically across the UK, with some areas offering fewer than 50 suitable vacancies for every 1,000 young adults, according to research highlighting the uneven geography of the country’s employment market.
Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that Rotherham had just one suitable vacancy for every 22 young people, equivalent to 46 opportunities per 1,000 young adults.
By contrast, the Cotswolds had one suitable vacancy for every four young people, underlining what the think tank described as a more than six-fold difference in the availability of opportunities depending on where young people live.
The findings come as the number of young people not in education, employment or training — known as NEETs — remains a concern for policymakers, with the IPPR warning that the problem cannot be addressed simply by encouraging individuals to search harder for work.
Henry Parkes, principal economist at the IPPR, said: “Too much of the debate about youth unemployment starts from the assumption that the problem lies with the young person. Our local data shows just how wrong that is. There is a more than six-fold gap in the availability of suitable vacancies depending on where you live.”
He added: “You cannot solve a shortage of opportunity simply by asking young people to search harder.
“We need to create the first rung of the employment ladder in places where it is missing – and rebuild apprenticeships so that every sector is playing its part in giving the next generation a route into good work.”
The research comes as the wider UK labour market shows signs of weakening. Official figures released by the Office for National Statistics indicated that the number of vacancies fell by about 8,000 in the three months to August to 702,000, the lowest level for five years.
Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “Payrolled employee numbers continue to edge down, with falls over the past year particularly evident in the retail and hospitality sectors.
“Vacancies remain at their lowest level outside the pandemic period for more than a decade, with smaller businesses continuing to report that increased labour costs are affecting hiring decisions.”
The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 per cent in the three months to July. More timely payroll data, however, showed the number of employees fell by 26,000 in August to 30.2mn, following a 19,000 decline in July.
Businesses are facing higher employment costs following increases in employers’ national insurance contributions and the minimum wage, adding to pressure on recruitment.
The figures point to a labour market in which the availability of entry-level opportunities is becoming increasingly dependent on geography, while weaker hiring risks making it harder for young people in areas with already limited employment prospects to secure their first job.
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