It's a struggle, say Hull's young job seekers
BBCYoung people in Hull have described finding jobs in their chosen fields as a struggle.
BBC Politics North spoke to young job-seekers as part of a debate about getting into work after national data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggested 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training (Neet) between April and June.
Frederick Leonard, 20, does have a job, in a call centre, but would like to progress into engineering. He said: "When I do find the jobs that I want, I rarely hear back. It's just a struggle."
The government said it was investing £2.5bn to create opportunities for young people "to earn or learn", including a "youth hub" in Hull.
Leonard said he was looking at training opportunities within the engineering sector.
"I'd love to be an engineer, maybe offshore or something like that," he added.
The ONS figures show that, for the UK as a whole, about one in eight people in the 16 to 24 age group fall into the Neet category.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham described youth unemployment as an "economic catastrophe and a moral failure", as he set out his case for reforms designed to help young people into training and careers, including more apprenticeships and work placements, alongside a shift in the approach to welfare.
The young people who spoke to the BBC are supported by the Warren Youth Project, which was established in Hull more than 40 years ago.
David Claywood, 19, is out of work at present and lives in supported living accommodation.
Claywood said filling out forms could make them anxious but they were looking for work opportunities.
"I've got so many ideas. I like my animals, I like my art, I like being creative in film and media."
James Dowdle was formerly employed at the Warren and now works as a youth development lead at the King's Trust in Leeds, which supports people aged 11 to 30 across the Yorkshire the Humber region.
Dowdle described the government's youth employment support package, which is designed to tackle youth unemployment across the country, as "a good start".
"I do like the fact that youth unemployment has become a bigger talking point, but I think there needs to be further considerations made around how best to help young people."
However, Dowdle said there were some issues with the youth guarantee scheme, which the government introduced in 2024 to ensure every 18 to 21-year-old in England has access to education, training or help to find a job or an apprenticeship.
The guarantee includes providing six months of paid work to eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who have been receiving Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning.
"I think there needs to be flexibility because if someone's been out of work for 18 months, they might not quickly adapt to the workplace," Dowdle said.
"They might have issues that we need to work with, such as job coaches, employers, and any other support agencies."
Another user of the Warren's services, 18-year-old Darja Dace Bruzus, said they would like to see more awareness in the workplace for people who are neurodivergent.
"I'm actually quite forward with my autism because it is a part of my life, it is my life," they said.
"And I think people need to be more aware of it, especially in the job culture these days."
Dowdle hoped changes including more access to opportunities and work experience would help all age groups looking for jobs.
"It's not just young people who struggle with these things. Older people do struggle as well.
"So if we can make those changes, everyone will benefit."
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Every young person deserves the chance to build a future they can be proud of no matter where they live.
"That is why we are investing £2.5bn to help create opportunities for them to earn or learn. As part of this, we are opening a Youth Hub in every local area of the country, including Hull, to bring housing, mental health, and employment support to the doorsteps of every young person."
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