Liverpool pushes for change as youth face declining job opportunities

Liverpool's young people are hitting barriers in their job search as entry-level roles have halved over the past decade.

Research by Lancaster University and the Work Foundation reveals that these critical "starter" jobs have dropped by 49% from 2016-17 to 2025-26.

The decline intensifies competition for youth, particularly in regions like the North East, where challenges are more pronounced.

Liverpool City Council is actively working to reverse this trend through initiatives like the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer Programme. This programme is testing fresh ideas to help young people gain access to education, employment, and training opportunities.

Dr Divya Jyoti told us that the complex hiring processes can leave young job seekers feeling demotivated and disconnected:

"They are putting in applications and sometimes not hearing back on any. Once in a while, even if they get interviews, they don't end up getting shortlisted - sometimes they don't even receive feedback on that. For a young person looking for a start, it can be really disappointing and disheartening."

Liverpool is committed to investing in its youth by providing targeted careers support and creating pathways for every young person to succeed.

The report ‘Starting out: Boosting youth employment in local labour markets’ offers insights on improving youth employment both in Liverpool and nationwide.

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