The author Clare Foges argues that a significant decline in opportunities for teenagers to hold part-time jobs has exacerbated the problem of youth unemployment in the United Kingdom.
Foges, reflecting on her own extensive experience with part-time work from age 13 to 26, including roles such as a pot washer, pudding girl, waitress, and barmaid, posits that these early work experiences were formative. She recounts tasks like sweeping up rat droppings and cleaning greasy kitchen units, noting that such conditions would likely raise concerns today but were instrumental in her development. These jobs, she asserts, taught her valuable skills, including overcoming shyness, punctuality, and the satisfaction of earning a reward for her labor.
"It is an awful fact that almost one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEETs for short)," Foges states, citing a report by Alan Milburn. The report suggests that a contributing factor to this crisis is the lack of preparedness among young people for the workplace, partly due to the decline in traditional Saturday jobs. Data indicates that fewer than one in five 16 and 17-year-olds are currently in work, a sharp decrease from the beginning of the century, with a significant portion of NEETs having never held a job.
Foges criticizes government policies that she believes have made it more expensive to hire young people, such as increases in the minimum wage and National Insurance contributions for employers. She advocates for reduced taxes and wages for employers hiring young individuals, along with a deregulation of the hiring process. Foges contrasts the current complex hiring procedures, which may involve numerous forms and checks, with her own experience of being offered a job at a bar immediately after asking about openings while watching a football match.
She contends that the world has changed, with many traditional entry-level jobs disappearing due to automation and evolving industries. However, she believes that current policies have worsened an already difficult situation by increasing the cost of employing young people. Foges concludes that fostering a work ethic and providing opportunities for young people to experience the rewards of earning is crucial for their future and for the country's economic well-being.