Next Chief Says UK Shop Job Applicants Jumped to 19 per Role as Youth Unemployment Hit 16.2%
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 25
Next Chief Says UK Shop Job Applicants Jumped to 19 per Role as Youth Unemployment Hit 16.2%
5 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 25
Next now gets 19 applicants for each shop job, up from 10 two years ago, which chief executive Lord Wolfson said shows a dramatic squeeze in UK entry-level hiring.
16- to 24-year-old unemployment has reached 16.2%—versus 5% overall—as retailers and hospitality groups cut back on lower-paid, part-time roles amid weak growth.
Wolfson blamed higher employer National Insurance, minimum wage increases and planned guaranteed-hours rules, saying Next already has fewer staff in stores and is using more automation.
The government defended the measures, saying higher minimum pay has lifted earnings for more than 200,000 young workers and a £2.5 billion package will create 1 million youth opportunities.
Despite warning on jobs, Next remains profitable—raising its full-year profit outlook to £1.2 billion earlier this month as first-quarter sales rose 6.2%.
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