Unemployment rate in the United Kingdom 2000-2019, by age group
Approximately 11.4 percent of people aged 16 to 24 were unemployed in the United Kingdom in 2018 the highest of any age group. Between 2000 and 2019, older age groups have had much lower unemployment rates than 16-24-year old's, who have consistently had the highest unemployment rate. For almost all the age groups, the peak in the unemployment rate was recorded in 2011 when over a fifth of 16-24-year-olds were unemployed.
There are several reasons for the disparity between young and old when examining the unemployment rate. Lack of experience and lack of preparedness may put off potential employers, leaving young people in a catch-22 situation where they cannot get a job due to a lack of working experience. Young people who have just left school are unlikely to have a job lined up for themselves when they leave the education system. This is reflected by the fact that almost a quarter of 16 to 17-year-olds were unemployed in 2018, while for those aged 18 to 24, it was more like one in ten.
Compared with several other European countries, the United Kingdom has a relatively low level of youth unemployment. In Greece, for example, nearly a third of the workforce under the age of 25 were unemployed, while Spain and Italy also suffered from high youth unemployment rates of 32.2 percent and 27.1 percent respectively.
Why is youth unemployment so high?
There are several reasons for the disparity between young and old when examining the unemployment rate. Lack of experience and lack of preparedness may put off potential employers, leaving young people in a catch-22 situation where they cannot get a job due to a lack of working experience. Young people who have just left school are unlikely to have a job lined up for themselves when they leave the education system. This is reflected by the fact that almost a quarter of 16 to 17-year-olds were unemployed in 2018, while for those aged 18 to 24, it was more like one in ten.
Youth unemployment in the EU
Compared with several other European countries, the United Kingdom has a relatively low level of youth unemployment. In Greece, for example, nearly a third of the workforce under the age of 25 were unemployed, while Spain and Italy also suffered from high youth unemployment rates of 32.2 percent and 27.1 percent respectively.
