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Youth unemployment hits decade high
Nearly one million young Britons are neither working, studying, nor in training, as the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds reaches 16.2%-the highest since late 2014. Official figures released this week show the UK's overall jobless rate edged up to 5% in the first quarter of 2026.
Education system fails to prepare workers, says Amazon
John Boumphrey, Amazon's UK country manager, rejected the idea that young people lack motivation. Instead, he pointed to a systemic failure in education. "We have to stop blaming young people," he told the BBC. "The system isn't producing graduates ready for work."
Amazon employs 75,000 people in the UK, with half recruited directly from education or unemployment. Despite this, Boumphrey said the company struggles to fill roles requiring technical skills, such as mechatronics engineers for warehouse robotics.
"It's not a motivation problem-it's a system problem, and that requires a system response."
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager
Work experience could bridge the gap
Boumphrey called for mandatory work experience for students over 16, arguing it teaches "teamwork, communication, and problem-solving"-skills he says are missing from the current curriculum. Amazon runs programmes for young people with learning disabilities and autism, where he claims to see "the biggest transformation."
The Department for Education already expects post-16 providers to offer work experience, but Boumphrey urged businesses, local governments, and colleges to collaborate regionally to address skills shortages.
Hospitality cuts shut doors for young workers
Jane Foley, managing director at Rabobank, called the youth unemployment rate "a horrible number." She noted that hospitality jobs, once a gateway for young workers, have declined due to minimum wage increases and automation. "Those jobs have been shutting the door on a lot of young people," she said.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies reported this week that the drop in youth employment mirrors declines seen during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduate struggles to find entry-level work
Andy Wilkins, 26, from Southend-on-Sea, has been unemployed for nearly a year. His savings of £2,000 have dwindled due to rising bills, leaving him reliant on £400 a month in Universal Credit. Despite applying for roles at retailers like Lidl, Aldi, and Primark, as well as fast-food chains and pharmacies, he has faced repeated rejections.
"I am desperate to work, no job is too big or too small-I have that sort of mindset."
Andy Wilkins, unemployed graduate
Amazon's tax transparency questioned
Amazon's tax contributions came under scrutiny during Boumphrey's interview. The company reported contributing over £5.8 billion in taxes last year, including corporation tax, business rates, and national insurance. However, it declined to disclose its corporation tax figure, citing fluctuations due to high investment levels.
Boumphrey argued that Amazon's impact extends beyond tax, highlighting its 75,000 UK jobs. "When you think about our contribution, it isn't just the amount of tax we pay," he said.
Critics note that Amazon's UK sales surpassed £25 billion last year, and the company accounts for 30% of all online retail in the country.
