Clare Foges, a former aide, contends that a decline in part-time jobs for teenagers is contributing to a crisis in youth unemployment, hindering their preparation for the workforce. Foges, who held numerous part-time roles from age 13 to 26, including waitress, barmaid, and chambermaid, believes these early experiences were formative.
"My part-time jobs taught so much. To swallow my shyness and make small talk. To turn off the snooze button, get up and turn up," Foges wrote. She emphasized the satisfaction of earning through effort, recounting her first paycheck of £1.50 per hour in 1993, which allowed her to buy a body mist.
According to Foges, the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) is a significant concern. She cited a report suggesting that part of the problem lies in young people not being prepared for the workplace due to a "longstanding decline" in Saturday jobs. Fewer than one in five 16 and 17-year-olds are currently employed, a sharp decrease from the start of the century, with six out of ten NEETs never having held a job.
Foges criticizes recent government policies, such as increases in the minimum wage and employer's National Insurance contributions, for making it more expensive to hire young people. She also points to the increased administrative burden, including background checks and online modules, that now complicate what were once simple hiring processes.
"The world has changed a lot since the 1990s – but what is infuriating is how this government has taken a difficult situation and made it worse," she stated. Foges advocates for reducing taxes and red tape for employers and trusting young people to take on responsibility.
She highlighted how easily she obtained a job as a bar worker in 2000, starting immediately after asking about openings. In contrast, she argues that today's process would involve numerous forms and checks, much of which she deems unnecessary. Foges concluded that fostering the feeling of earning through hard work is crucial for the future of both young people and the country.