For young people leaving school or college, finding a first job can feel like a frustrating catch-22: employers want experience, but gaining experience is difficult when you have never had the opportunity to work.

Across the UK, the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training is a growing concern. An interim government review published earlier this year found that almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training, while six in 10 young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) have never had a job.

The issue is not simply a lack of willingness to work. 

For many young people, getting their first foot onto the career ladder can be particularly difficult.

The experience trap

One of the biggest barriers facing young people leaving school or college is the demand for previous experience.

Entry-level jobs may ask applicants to demonstrate customer service skills, communication skills, confidence, reliability or previous experience, even when the role is aimed at someone starting their career.

This creates a difficult cycle. Young people need a job to gain experience, but often need experience to secure their first job.

For those without family connections, work experience or opportunities to develop skills outside school, the gap can be even harder to bridge.

A tougher job market

Young people are entering a job market where employers are increasingly looking for a broad range of skills and experience. For someone at the beginning of their working life, this can make the process of finding a job particularly daunting, especially if they have never written a CV, attended an interview or had to explain what they can offer an employer.

Competition for entry-level roles can also be high, meaning young people may find themselves submitting numerous applications without securing an interview. Repeated rejection can be disheartening and, for someone trying to get their first foot on the career ladder, can quickly knock their confidence.

Why location matters

Where someone lives can also influence the opportunities available to them.

The government’s youth unemployment review highlighted significant geographical differences in young people’s employment prospects, with young people facing different outcomes depending on the local labour market and availability of services and opportunities.

For many young people in the Harrogate district, transport can also be a major factor. 

A job may look suitable on paper but become much less practical if shifts start early, finish late or require travel to places that are difficult to reach by public transport.

Not every young person has access to a car, and public transport options can limit the jobs they can realistically apply for.

Apprenticeships can provide a way in

One route into employment is an apprenticeship, which combines paid work with structured training and a recognised qualification.

There are opportunities available locally; Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, for example, offers apprenticeships across clinical and non-clinical areas, including business administration, customer service, finance, human resources and data management.

Current apprenticeship vacancies in and around Harrogate also highlight the range of opportunities available, including early years roles at Hookstone Chase Primary and Green Gables Montessori Nursery, allowing apprentices to gain practical experience while working towards qualifications.

Meanwhile, The Stray Ferret has also pledged to train a new local journalist recruited from a regional school once we reach 4,000 subscribers.

Apprenticeships can therefore provide something that is difficult for many school leavers to obtain independently: the chance to build experience while earning a wage.

The importance of that first opportunity

Getting a first job is about more than earning a wage. For young people, employment can build confidence, independence, professional contacts and valuable experience, while making future job applications easier.

Young people are also entering a rapidly changing job market, with artificial intelligence reshaping roles and the skills employers need across many industries. This makes gaining practical experience and developing transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, creativity and adaptability increasingly important.

What can young people do?

While the wider employment market is largely beyond an individual’s control, there are practical ways young people can improve their chances.

Volunteering, work experience, part-time jobs and apprenticeships can help develop and demonstrate transferable skills. Activities outside formal employment can also demonstrate reliability, teamwork, communication and commitment.

Young people should not necessarily dismiss a vacancy because they do not meet every requirement. If they can demonstrate enthusiasm and relevant skills, applying can still be worthwhile.

Employers also have a role to play. Offering entry-level opportunities, work experience and apprenticeships can help young people take their first step into the workplace.

For businesses, investing in someone at the beginning of their career can also help develop the skills they will need in the future.

The challenge for young people in the Harrogate district – and across the country – is getting that crucial first opportunity to prove what they can do.

Sometimes, all it takes to start a career is for one employer to be willing to give someone their first chance.