Why all is not lost for young people entering the workforce
The effects have been significant in all walks of life, especially in the workforce. Offices have shut, remote working has become the norm, and Zoom is everyone's new favourite word. But while established businesses and employees have been getting used to their new working conditions, one topic has flown somewhat under the radar - young employees and a myriad of issues surrounding youth unemployment.
The problem
With thousands upon thousands of workers around the world losing their jobs, being furloughed, or being just plain unlucky, young workers aged 18-25 are entering a workforce that is already scrambling to stay in a job - available roles are oversubscribed, while other employers are questioning whether they need as many workers as they did before the pandemic.
The result is fewer jobs going, and more people than ever trying to get those roles. And the people hit hardest by this new dynamic are those with the least experience; young people.
It leaves entry level and junior employees in a pickle. But... all is not lost.
The solution
Thanks to the Government's Kickstart Scheme, the Government itself will fund and pay for employers in England, Scotland and Wales to create roles in their business without them taking on any of the cost. 6-month placements will be made available to people aged 16-24 who are "at risk of long term unemployment". The scheme hopes to open up hundreds of thousands of part-time roles that otherwise wouldn't have otherwise existed.
Extra funding has also been made available to transition successful employees into more established full-time role in the future. Theoretically, this means that school leavers and graduates alike can follow a Government-built pathway into the first stages of their career while the pandemic continues.
The great thing for employers is that they won't bear the cost of these roles, plus it gives them access to thousands of workers who otherwise may have escaped their notice. Expect employers to be receptive to this new scheme, especially younger and smaller businesses who don't have the pull of more established companies.
In short
It isn't quite the career path that Gen-Z had planned, but the opportunities are there for those who are on the lookout for a stepping stone into the world of work. While the world is still getting to grips with this new-look way of working, any and all opportunities to find that elusive "first job" are worth exploring.
It is a win-win situation for employee and employer, and the expectation is that many young workers will find many diverse career paths open to them in the midst of the pandemic.
Who we are
Hundo is a totally digital platform that is already working alongside UK businesses to help entry-level employees forge and launch their own careers. And with us, everyone gets a chance to make the most of who they are and what they want to be.
