UK Youth Unemployment Reaches Critical Levels as Companies Favor AI
London, UK – A growing number of young people in the United Kingdom are facing a worsening jobs crisis, with approximately one million individuals currently locked out of the workforce, according to recent analysis. The situation is being exacerbated by a shift in company hiring practices, with businesses increasingly prioritizing automation and artificial intelligence over entry-level positions traditionally held by young workers.
The trend was highlighted in a recent report detailing companies’ reduced reliance on the entry-level jobs that have historically provided a pathway into employment.The founder of a data sharing platform, who has ceased hiring junior coders, stated bluntly: “There’s just no reason to deal with young employees.”
Further evidence of this shift comes from Shopify, which has instructed it’s managers to justify any human hire by first demonstrating why the relevant job cannot be performed by AI.
This double disruption – the potential for social skill erosion through platform reliance coupled with job automation – raises concerns about the future prospects of young people and the potential for increased anxiety,depression,and social unrest. The crisis underscores fundamental questions about the wellbeing of the UK’s youth and the potential consequences of widespread economic exclusion.