For many teenagers and young adults, landing that first job feels like an impossible mission. It’s frustrating, discouraging, and makes you wonder: why is it so hard for young people to enter the job market? Many of us are graduating soon, and the reality of needing to find work will eventually hit hard. Even for those not graduating just yet, this is still an issue that can affect you in the near future.
Youth unemployment is a global issue. While older generations often say, “Just go out and get a job,” the truth is that it’s not that simple anymore. In many countries, the youth unemployment rate is significantly higher than the overall unemployment rate.
One of the biggest struggles is the paradox of needing experience to get a job but needing a job to get experience. Employers usually hesitate to hire young workers because they lack a work history, however without that first opportunity, how can they gain experience? Another cause is that many school curriculums focus on academics but don’t always teach practical skills that some jobs might require.. Similarly, the importance of soft skills is growing in the workplace, and these can often be neglected by schools.
So what can be done? Despite there not being an easy, guaranteed solution, there are a few things young people can do to help their chances in the future. The main one is internships, as they allow young people to gain experience and also build up necessary skills for specific jobs. Additionally, encouraging entrepreneurship is another solution. Not all young people need to rely on traditional employment, and freelancing or starting a small business can be a way to gain experience and financial independence.
Yes, finding that first job is tough, but it’s not impossible. It is important to understand the challenges faced by the youth in employment to be able to adapt. The job market may be evolving, but so can we.
