Millions of Brits under 25 feel they are treated negatively at work because of their age, study finds

According to a survey, over 90% of young employees have encountered unfavorable treatment at work due to their age.

According to a study of 3,000 employees aged 16 to 25, bad treatment and damaging perceptions are making young workers feel insecure and nervous.

According to 26% of respondents, it made them feel as though they had no desire to work at all.

Being patronized (78%) and underappreciated (81%) are among the most common problems encountered at work.

However, 75% of people have been flatly refused from a job because of their age, and 69% feel they have missed out on a promotion.

Additionally, 49% believe they are unable to advance in their careers.

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Nearly a tenth (nine percent) of the 500 businesses surveyed also acknowledged turning away a young applicant because of their age.

The unemployment rate for those aged 16 and over was expected to be 4.3% in August to October 2024, up from the previous quarter and year over year, according to recent data on the UK labor market.

KFC UK&I, which has launched a number of measures to remove barriers for young people, including a new Youth Advisory Board, a review of hiring practices, and a CV and career coaching trial, commissioned the study.

“Our research demonstrates that young people are being overlooked and undervalued, with unfair stereotypes putting them at a disadvantage in the workplace,” stated Meghan Farren, general manager of KFC UK.

Additionally, more young people are permanently avoiding the workforce as a result of the higher hurdles they face.

Since 65 percent of our employees are under 25, I witness the good influence that young people have on my company on a daily basis.

Recognizing young people’s potential and assisting them in finding and keeping employment will be essential if businesses and the government are serious about enabling economic growth.

Additionally, the study discovered that 18% of young employees had been labeled as overly sensitive, and the same amount had been labeled as work-shy or sluggish.

Other adjectives that have been used to describe Gen Z employees include entitled (11 percent), self-obsessed (11 percent), and unreliable (12 percent).

But those who have experienced a negative issue in work that they believe was down to their age have been left feeling anxious (31 per cent), with others claiming it impacted their self-confidence (28 per cent) and self-esteem (27 per cent).

More than one in five also felt it affected their mental health (23 per cent) or left them feeling sad or depressed (23 per cent).

Despite perpetuating harmful stereotypes about young people, employers are aware of the toll they can take, with 38 per cent admitting these pre-conceptions are unfair, while 51 per cent recognise the impact on young people s mental health.

And 36 per cent are aware the language used in their hiring process isn t inclusive or accessible for young people.

As a result, 85 per cent feel they have a responsibility to help young people into the workforce.

Lamin Tarawally, Youth Beyond Borders Youth lead and chair of KFC Youth Advisory Board, said: Young people today bring immense potential and fresh perspectives, yet age discrimination remains a significant barrier to employment.

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Through this initiative, we aim to foster a workplace culture that not only welcomes young voices but actively seeks to learn from them.

This is a powerful opportunity to reframe how businesses engage with the next generation, setting a precedent for authentic inclusion .

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