The only age group losing jobs in the UK right now
Key Points
- Over-65s gained 171,000 UK jobs in the year to May 2026 - the largest rise of any age group
- 18 to 24-year-olds lost 8,000 jobs over the quarter, the only age group to record a fall
- Youth unemployment hit 16.4%, with 743,000 young people out of work - up 112,000 (17.7%) in a year
- Total UK employment rose to 34.48 million, with unemployment at 4.9%
- 2.5 unemployed people compete for every vacancy, unchanged since September 2025
Workers aged 65 and over recorded the largest employment gains of any age group in the year to May 2026, adding 171,000 jobs, while 18 to 24-year-olds were the only group to lose jobs over the latest quarter.
The figures come from the CBI’s July Labour Market Update, which draws on the Office for National Statistics’ latest labour market data.
Total UK employment rose by 100,000 in the three months to May 2026 to reach 34.48 million, with 340,000 more people in work than a year earlier. Beneath that headline growth, the gains split sharply by age.
Older workers drive the growth
People aged 65 and over added 57,000 jobs on the quarter alone, more than any other age group, on top of their 171,000 annual gain. Workers aged 25 to 34 followed with 43,000 additional jobs over the quarter, while 35 to 49-year-olds recorded the second-largest yearly rise at 120,000.
At the other end of the scale, 18 to 24-year-olds lost 8,000 jobs over the quarter, making them the only age group to go backwards. The divergence comes as overall unemployment sits at 4.9%, slightly down on the quarter but up on the year.
Youth unemployment keeps climbing
The picture for young people continues to deteriorate.
An estimated 743,000 16 to 24-year-olds were unemployed in the quarter to May 2026, putting the youth unemployment rate at 16.4% – more than three times the headline rate. That figure represents 112,000 more unemployed young people than a year earlier, a rise of 17.7%.
The CBI described youth unemployment levels as “concerningly high” and noted that job creation across many sectors has stayed subdued, with 2.5 unemployed people competing for every vacancy – a ratio unchanged since September 2025.
The CBI said barriers to hiring persist despite many businesses remaining committed to recruitment, leaving many people who want to work struggling to find employment.
It has urged the government to work with businesses to address the unintended consequences of recent policy decisions, pointing to concerns raised by English firms over Growth and Skills Levy reforms and their impact on apprenticeship delivery.
Notably, employers appear to be holding on to experienced staff and hiring where skills are proven, while entry-level roles bear the brunt of hiring caution.
