Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Graduates struggle to find work as supermarket vacancies decline

The government states that youth employment is a key priority

Graduates struggle to find work

Business groups are raising concerns about the government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill

iStock

Young people across the UK say they are finding it more difficult than ever to secure a job, with some graduates even being turned away from supermarket roles. The government maintains that youth employment is a key priority, but the number of vacancies across the country has now fallen to its lowest point in nearly four years.

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents major supermarket chains, rising costs for employers and upcoming legislative changes are forcing businesses to scale back on hiring. The BRC warns that young people are likely to be most affected by this downturn in retail recruitment.


Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that in early 2025, job vacancies dropped to 781,000 — a sharp decline from previous years. At the same time, 13.4% of those aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training at the end of 2024, the highest proportion in over a decade. This equates to almost one in seven people within that age group.

Several experts believe that the growing cost of employing staff is deterring companies from taking on new workers. The increase in the minimum wage for different age groups, along with a rise in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) in April, has significantly raised the cost of recruitment and staff retention.

In addition, business groups are raising concerns about the government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill, which is currently under review in the House of Lords. A central provision of the bill would require employers to offer guaranteed-hours contracts to zero-hours workers, based on the hours worked over a 12-week period.

While the bill is intended to improve job security, many retail HR leaders say it could have the opposite effect. A BRC survey of HR directors from 30 companies employing a combined 585,000 retail staff found that just over half of respondents expected the bill to lead to job reductions. Meanwhile, 61% said the legislation would reduce the flexibility of job offerings, particularly in part-time roles.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said the retail sector has already shed nearly a quarter of a million jobs over the past five years. She noted that the latest changes to employment costs introduced in April could prompt even more job cuts.

“Part-time roles have declined by 200,000 since 2017,” Dickinson said. “These roles provide essential entry points into work for students, carers, and those returning to employment. In its current form, the Employment Rights Bill could backfire, further reducing retail employment and stifling new hiring.”

The proposed changes come at a time when young people are already struggling to access the workforce. Graduates have told the BBC they are being turned away from roles in supermarkets — positions once seen as reliable fallbacks for those seeking entry-level employment.

Despite these concerns, the government insists it is taking action. A spokesperson said its new “youth guarantee” is aimed at offering every 18 to 21-year-old in England access to apprenticeships, high-quality training, further education, or support in finding work.

The government has defended the recent tax increases, stating that they are necessary to stabilise public finances and fund key public services such as the NHS. However, they also pointed out that businesses can claim NICs relief for some eligible staff, including employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under 25.

Still, with supermarkets scaling back recruitment and flexibility in part-time roles under threat, young people entering the job market may face continued obstacles — even for jobs that were once considered a reliable first step.

More For You

Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

Workers are engaged at their sewing stations in a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 9, 2025. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

BANGLADESH, the world's second-biggest garment manufacturer, aims to strike a trade deal with the US before Donald Trump's punishing tariffs kick in next week, said the country's top commerce official.

Dhaka is proposing to buy Boeing planes and boost imports of US wheat, cotton and oil in a bid to reduce the trade deficit, which Trump used as the reason for imposing painful levies in his "Liberation Day" announcement.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Bond yields ease following Starmer’s support for Reeves

THE COST of UK government borrowing fell on Thursday, partially reversing the rise seen after Chancellor Rachel Reeves became emotional during Prime Minister’s Questions.

The yield on 10-year government bonds dropped to 4.55 per cent, down from 4.61 per cent the previous day. The pound also recovered slightly to $1.3668 (around £1.00), though it did not regain all its earlier losses.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty
Modi shakes hands with Trump before a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Indian exporters watch closely as Trump says trade deal with India likely

THE US could reach a trade deal with India that would help American companies compete more easily in the Indian market and reduce tariff rates, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday. However, he cast doubt on a similar deal with Japan.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he believed India was ready to lower trade barriers, potentially paving the way for an agreement that would avoid the 26 per cent tariff rate he had announced on April 2 and paused until July 9.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

INDIAN footwear sellers and artisans are tapping into nationalist pride stoked by the Prada 'sandal scandal' in a bid to boost sales of ethnic slippers with history dating back to the 12th century, raising hopes of reviving a struggling craft.

Sales are surging over the past week for the 'Kolhapuri' sandals that have garnered global attention after Prada sparked a controversy by showcasing similar designs in Milan, without initially crediting the footwear's origins.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Economy grew 0.7 per cent in Q1 2025, fastest in a year

THE UK economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year during the first quarter of 2025, driven by a rise in home purchases ahead of a tax deadline and higher manufacturing output before the introduction of new US import tariffs.

Gross domestic product rose by 0.7 per cent in the January-to-March period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, confirming its earlier estimate. This was the strongest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less