Youth unemployment will increase significantly in the coming months
School and university leavers will significantly increase the UK’s unemployment rate, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg.
Robert Salter, a director at the firm, said: “The UK has a significant number of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs). Wider problems in the job market are likely to make this worse with millions of school leavers and new graduates scheduled to enter the labour market in the coming months.”
He added: “Over 15% of all 16 to 24-year-olds are now NEETs. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the job market is becoming increasingly difficult for all job seekers, with unemployment for December 2025 rising to 5.2%, up from a rate of 4.4% when the government came to power in July 2024.”
Robert said: “An estimated 900,000 students are expected to graduate from universities and colleges over the next few months, while many more 16–18-year-olds will also be looking for their first jobs at the same time. The ONS statistics paint a bleak picture for their ability to find and retain employment.”
He added: “Some of the government’s key policies over the last 18 months such as the sharp increase in the National Minimum Wage, the increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the introduction of new Employment Rights could make it even more difficult for young job seekers.”
Robert said: “However, a greater concern is not just the immediate increase in joblessness, but that the government does not have a clear focussed policy for the overall economy. Without growth, the job market will not improve for anyone.”