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ArchiveLesson #102Business

The Disappearance of First Jobs for Young People

A growing number of young people in the UK are not in work, education, or training, raising concerns about their future prospects.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

In the UK, more than a million young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment, or training, a situation that is worsening. This group, known as , has struggled to find jobs, especially after the Covid pandemic. While other countries have recovered, the UK has not. Many young people feel after applying for numerous jobs without success.

Lesson audio

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 30 June 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • Neets

    Young people not in education, employment, or training

    “Many Neets struggle to find work.”

  • demoralized

    Feeling a loss of confidence or hope

    “After many rejections, she felt demoralized.”

  • bursary

    A financial grant to help students pay for education

    “She received a bursary to study at Oxford.”

  • prospects

    The chances of success in the future

    “Their job prospects are currently very low.”

  • exacerbated

    Made a problem worse

    “The pandemic exacerbated the job crisis.”

Quick quiz

01What does the term 'Neets' refer to?

02How many young people in the UK are classified as Neets?

03What has made finding jobs harder for young people according to the article?

04What does Hannah feel about her job search?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

What do you think can be done to help young people find jobs?