Stories

Thu, 28 May 2026

Thu, 28 May 2026 'I've applied for more than 400 roles' - how young people are facing the job shortage

The BBC has been hearing from young people who are struggling to find work about how they are tackling the challenge.
Zaynah, 24: Has applied for over 200 jobs since leaving college a year ago but hasn't heard back from any employers. She's currently on a charity scheme called Spear to build her confidence. Luke, 23: Studied product design at Central St Martin's University but has applied for over 400 positions and hasn't found a job. He criticizes the application process as "vile" and says it's humiliating. Tarun, 18: Was studying when his grandmother died and he had to travel to India. Since returning, he's been trying to find work but is stuck in a loop of applying for jobs that require experience. He's motivated himself by taking up rapping. Eloise, 24: Has degrees in English and creative writing but has ended up in hospitality due to lack of opportunities. She's had four interviews but none have led to the job she wants. Clover, 20: Spent three years looking for work and finally got a job in retail with zero hours contract through a friend's recommendation. He feels it's not ideal but better than nothing, and he'd like to be doing something else.