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Mon, 25 May 2026

Mon, 25 May 2026 Next boss warns of 'dramatic' fall in entry-level jobs

Lord Wolfson tells the BBC Next now typically receives double the number of applicants for one role than it did two years ago.

* Lord Wolfson, Next's CEO, warns of a "dramatic fall" in entry-level job opportunities in the UK.
* The number of applicants for shop jobs at Next has doubled in two years, indicating a crisis in youth unemployment.
* A ban on zero-hours contracts will make hiring more difficult and result in fewer staff being employed in individual shops.
* Lord Wolfson calls on the government to reverse its hike in employer National Insurance contributions and minimum wage rises.
* The CEO suggests that economic growth is the main solution to boosting the jobs market, rather than focusing solely on youth unemployment.
* The government responds by pointing out that increasing the national minimum wage has boosted pay for over 200,000 young workers and that a £2.5bn youth employment support package will deliver a million opportunities across the country.
* Next has seen its wage bill rise by £70m per year due to government policies and is increasingly using automation and technology to reduce staffing levels.
* Lord Wolfson rejects criticism of prioritizing shareholders over workers, pointing out that the average dividend paid out to individual savers will be around £300 a year.