The alarming rise in youth unemployment is a challenge many nations, including the U.K., are facing head-on. With more young people out of work or trapped in temporary, low-wage jobs, national governments are scrambling to find ways to address the issue. In the U.K., nearly 16% of men aged 18 to 24 were categorized as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in the first half of 2023, marking the highest rate in over a decade. The government’s new strategy aims to tackle this issue directly by focusing on apprenticeships in emerging industries.
U.K.’s Ambitious Apprenticeship Initiative
To combat the mounting youth unemployment crisis, the U.K. government recently unveiled a bold plan to invest $965 million over the next three years, targeting the creation of 50,000 apprenticeship roles. This initiative will focus on providing young people, particularly those not in education or employment, with the opportunity to gain skills and experience in high-demand industries such as AI, engineering, and hospitality.
According to the government, a significant chunk of this funding, $186 million, will go towards a pilot programme aimed at connecting young people with local employers through the support of regional mayors. The goal is to bridge the gap between talent and employers by offering tailored apprenticeship opportunities that align with the skills needed in the workforce.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasised that apprenticeships must be given equal importance to traditional higher education routes, especially given the rapidly changing landscape of work. “For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university. That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break,” Starmer said.Â
Shift Towards Skilled Trades Amid Job Automation Fears
As the world adapts to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, many young people are growing increasingly concerned about the future of traditional jobs. In the U.K., there has been a notable shift in interest towards skilled trades such as plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. The reason? Many young workers see these professions as more resistant to the encroachment of AI and automation, which threaten to eliminate a significant number of white-collar jobs in the coming years.
Maryna Yaroshenko, an 18-year-old student at the City of Westminster College, is one of many young people opting for skilled trades in response to AI’s growing influence. Yaroshenko is currently training to become a plumber, a job she believes will remain irreplaceable by machines. “No AI can do plumbing, no AI can do real engineering, no AI can be an electrician,” she said. According to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, one in six U.K. employers expects to reduce their workforce due to AI in the next 12 months, highlighting the growing concern about job displacement.
The shift towards skilled trades has been reflected in growing enrolments in courses related to construction and engineering. Over the past three years, the City of Westminster College has seen a 9.6% increase in enrolments in engineering and construction courses, partly attributed to worries about AI’s impact on the job market. Vocational training, such as plumbing or electrical work, not only offers job security but also higher earning potential, with average annual salaries of £37,881 ($50,169) for plumbers and £35,764 for skilled trades in construction.
With the rapid rise of AI and automation reshaping industries worldwide, the U.K.’s new apprenticeship initiative provides a crucial opportunity to address the growing issue of youth unemployment. By focusing on upskilling young workers in high-demand industries and promoting the value of vocational training, the government is preparing a generation that can navigate both current job challenges and future technological disruptions.
