London’s youth unemployment figures are deeply concerning.

1 in 4 young Londoners are unemployed. Too many young Londoners have been let down as they attempt to enter the working world. A small number of entry-level jobs are attracting hundreds of applicants. Pathways into employment are feeling increasingly unclear, and for many, the transition from education to employment has stalled entirely.

Recent findings highlighted by the interim report from the Milburn Review point to the growing challenge facing the country around youth unemployment and economic activity. While this is a national issue, each urban area faces distinct challenges. London needs its own analysis for its unique economy.

A deepening crisis for our young people

Since the pandemic, many young people have experienced a marked deterioration in social and economic outcomes. A combination of factors – including the scarring effect of lockdown, slower employment growth, barriers to accessing opportunity, and wider economic pressures – has left many struggling to get a foothold in London’s labour market.

Our forthcoming research will provide a London-specific diagnosis of youth unemployment, placing the capital’s experience within the context of other major centres of growth across the UK – such as Manchester, the West Midlands and the OxCam (Oxford-Cambridge) corridor.

We’ll explore:

• The scale and drivers of deteriorating youth prospects in London.
• Where the opportunity challenges are most concentrated across the city.
• How entry-level pipelines such as apprenticeships and education transitions are functioning.
• What responsibilities and levers sit at borough, sub-regional, London-wide and national levels.

This research is intended as a starting point: an evidence base to a wider ongoing conversation about how we can support our young people into stable, well-paid jobs.

This is about giving young people the opportunities they deserve. If we start to get it right, the benefits will be felt far beyond the labour market – through stronger communities, greater social mobility, plugged skills gaps and a more prosperous London.