Millions of school leavers and university graduates are storming the job market — and the picture is grim.
Leading audit and business advisors Blick Rothenberg warn that the UK could see unemployment spike sharply in the coming months.
“Over 15% of all 16 to 24-year-olds are now NEETs — not in employment, education or training,” said Robert Salter, director at the firm.
“The job market is getting tougher every day, and millions of young people are about to enter it all at once.”
The Office for National Statistics has revealed that unemployment jumped to 5.2% in December 2025, up from 4.4% when the government took office in July 2024.
“Around 900,000 students are expected to graduate soon, and thousands of 16–18-year-olds are looking for their first jobs. Finding work will be extremely tough,” Salter added.
Experts point to government policies as part of the problem — including the National Minimum Wage hike, higher employer National Insurance Contributions, and new employment regulations.
“The immediate worry is joblessness, but the bigger issue is that the government lacks a clear plan to grow the economy. Without growth, nothing will improve,” Salter warned.
