Responding to the Alan Milburn interim report
on Young People and Work, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the
British Retail Consortium, said:
“The first rung of the career ladder may have thinned, but retail
continues to provide opportunities for over three-quarters of a
million people under 25. As the largest private-sector employer,
the industry has an essential role in providing young people with
experience, training, and a career path that sets them on the
right track for life. Yet, it has never been a more difficult to
hire than today. The industry has lost almost 400,000 jobs in the
last decade, and increasing costs and regulations make it harder
than ever to take on new staff.
“The patchwork of support for jobseekers and employers is complex
and often misaligned. Interventions like the Youth Jobs Grant and
Jobs Guarantee are welcome but are held back by the massive rise
in employment costs and regulations faced by businesses. In April
2025, the cost of employing someone in a full-time entry level
job rose by 10%, and part-time an additional 13%. Implementation
of aspects of the Employment Rights Act risk limiting more entry
level jobs. Government must join the dots between tax, red tape,
and its efforts to reduce unemployment.
“As the major employer of young people in the UK, retailers have
a vital stake in their future. We welcome Alan Milburn's stark
and honest diagnosis of the issues and call on Government to work
with us to help solve this challenge. Joining the dots across
different policies and working with the industry, will help turn
around the fortunes of young people everywhere.”
