Unemployment rising for 18-24 year olds in the UK

Unemployment rising for 18-24 year olds in the UK

Do read the article in bbc.com here with details for the unemployment of 18-24 year olds

Article in bbc.com The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in the three months to October, with younger workers particularly affected, official data shows.

This time last year the unemployment rate was 4.3%, illustrating a trend of an increasing number of people out of work, official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.

The number of unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds increased by 85,000 in the three months to October, the largest rise since November 2022.

The ONS said the figures reflected a “subdued labour market” that was particularly affecting young people. Article in bbc.com

Closer to us, unemployment for below 30s in Singapore is also rising…

Article in channelnewsasia.com While the unemployment rate for residents across most age groups fell in the second quarter of 2025, the rate for those below the age of 30 rose from 5.4 per cent in March to 5.7 per cent in June. Article in channelnewsasia.com Please do note that 5.7 percent remains very low by most developed nation status. So, we need to be alarmed only when it continue rising.

Do not look too far, this is also happening in Malaysia too

Article in theedgemalaysia.com. In the third quarter of 2025 (3Q2025), skill-related underemployment — graduates and diploma holders in low- or semi-skilled jobs — rose slightly to 1.96 million, making up about 35.5% of employed degree and diploma holders, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s latest 3Q labour force report. Youth unemployment fell slightly to 10.1% for ages 15-24. Article in theedgemalaysia.com.

It happens also in the country Malaysians love to further their studies or migrate to

Article in abc.net.au The national unemployment rate remained at 4.3 per cent in November. But the underemployment rate surged from 5.7 per cent to 6.2 per cent, the labour force shrank, and the participation rate fell. The youth unemployment rate (15 to 24 years) also jumped from 9.7 per cent to 10.2 per cent. Article in abc.net.au

Without qualification and experience, things are tougher

Many years back, someone told me that these days, a degree is no longer important. Well, if we truly look at the numbers above, it is clear that when those with a degree is ‘underemployed’ meaning they are in jobs which does not commensurate with their qualifications, then it will just get worse for those without any qualifications yeah.

Think very honestly. If you are a business owner and you need to hire people. For the same amount of money, would you prefer to hire one who’s just a school leaver or one who has finished university but is willing to now take a lower qualified job to gain the experience? One brings with them years of theories, maturity and even discipline since they could somehow complete their 3-4 year course.

Then we look at the school leaver who has hardly any working experience and does not have the maturity and the discipline. Else, why not pursue a tertiary education? If academic is not what they want, they why not pursue some vocational qualifications? This is why we could see youths unemployment or under-employment will always be an issue.

Some will now debate with me that they will take the school leave because they will work longer versus the ones with qualifications who will leave as soon as they found a better paying role. Erm… if this is indeed the case, then why did we pay them a lower pay. If we really do think they are better, we should pay them more. It’s always a chicken and egg situation lah. Pay more for them to work harder or wait for them to show promise before paying higher? It’s a question for you to answer if you are a business owner.

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