Collapse in holiday work hits young people

A fall in the number of young people able to get jobs in the summer holidays and while studying in term time is making it harder for them to get a foot on the job ladder.

New analysis released this week from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows that the number of 16- to 17-year-olds in full-time education working in the summer has almost halved compared to 20 years ago. Meanwhile, for 18- to 24-year-olds, the number has fallen by a fifth.

In the late 1990s, over 40% of 16- to 17-year-olds did some work while studying, for example in Saturday jobs, while now that figure rests at just over 20%. Without work experience, it is hard to demonstrate the ‘soft skills’ employers are looking for. Combining earning and learning can be a useful way for young people to gain skills for the world of work and help make the transition from education into work – but currently it appears that there are not enough opportunities available.

Carys Roberts, Research Fellow at IPPR, said: “With the aftershock of the Brexit vote looming large on the UK economy, young people will need all the help they can get to get on the employment ladder. Our analysis shows that young people want to work both in the summer and alongside studying, but often can’t.

“Government, business, schools and universities need to work together to create opportunities for young people. This should including high quality work experience at school, apprenticeships with qualifications attached and university-brokered paid internships for their students.”

Hang Ho, Head of Philanthropy for Europe, Middle-East and Africa at J.P. Morgan, said: “Summer jobs provide young people with a unique opportunity to develop valuable skills and lay the foundation for better future employment opportunities. This problem is not confined to the UK. A recent JPMorgan Chase report analysing summer youth employment opportunities in the United States found that summer employment for teenagers has fallen to 34% over the past 20 years, which is a 37% decline, a near record-low, and it’s hitting low-income communities the hardest.

“Supporting youth to find and secure the best employment opportunities is clearly a global need.”