Aged 18 to 24 and Not in Work or Education? The Routes Actually Open to You This Winter
If you are 18 to 24 and not in work, education or training, you will have heard the phrase "need experience to get a job, need a job to get experience". It is not just a feeling. In Reed's 2026 survey of 2,000 young people, 40% said they had been rejected for a role because they lacked experience (Reed, via People Management).
You are also far from alone. The ONS estimates 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training between April and June 2026 (ONS, via Personnel Today). The good news is that this autumn has brought more routes in than there were a year ago. Here is what is open to you now, who it is for and how to get onto it.
Last updated: 20 October 2026. We will update this page after the Budget on 28 October.
What help is there for young people not in work right now?
| Route | Who it is for | What you get | How to access it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Shift (retail) | 18 to 24, not in work or education | Two to four weeks' work experience, a workplace buddy and an interview at the end | Through your Jobcentre work coach |
| Hospitality placements | 18 to 24, not in work or education | Placements of up to four weeks | Through your Jobcentre work coach |
| Jobs Guarantee | 18 to 24 on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months | A six-month paid job at the minimum wage | Through your Jobcentre work coach |
| Apprenticeships | 16 and over | A paid job with training and a recognised qualification | Find an apprenticeship |
| Careers advice | Anyone, whether or not you claim benefits | Free one-to-one guidance from a qualified adviser | Freephone 0800 072 0288, online or at a Jobcentre |
How do the retail and hospitality placements work?
Opening Shift. More than 40 retailers, including M&S, John Lewis Partnership and Pets at Home, have joined with the Department for Work and Pensions to offer 100,000 work experience placements over three years. Each lasts two to four weeks at 16 to 35 hours a week, you get a dedicated workplace buddy, and you get an interview at the end, with the aim of moving as many people as possible into a job. You keep receiving Universal Credit while you are on the placement (Personnel Today).
Hospitality. In October, hospitality employers pledged another 100,000 opportunities for 18 to 24-year-olds over three years, with placements of up to four weeks. McDonald's, Burger King, Nando's, Wagamama, Premier Inn, Fuller's and Mitchells & Butlers are among those involved (Personnel Today).
Both schemes run through Jobcentres. If you have a work coach, ask them directly to put you forward. If you do not, the Jobcentre's careers service can tell you what is available locally.
These are short, unpaid placements rather than jobs. Their value is that they give you exactly what employers say young applicants are missing: proof you can turn up, work with a team and handle a real shift.
What is the Jobs Guarantee?
The Jobs Guarantee offers a fully subsidised, six-month paid job to young people who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. It started in six areas in spring 2026 for 18 to 21-year-olds, and the government is expanding it to all eligible 18 to 24-year-olds as it rolls out across Great Britain from autumn 2026. Jobs are paid at the relevant minimum wage, with support alongside (CIPP; gov.uk).
If you have been on Universal Credit for a shorter time, it still helps to know about the Youth Jobs Grant: employers receive £3,000 for hiring someone aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months. It is worth mentioning politely to a small employer you are applying to, because it lowers the cost of taking you on (CIPP).
Are apprenticeships still a good route?
Yes, and small businesses now have more reason to offer them. Under a new incentive announced in October, non-levy employers, which are mostly small and medium-sized businesses, will receive £2,000 for each apprentice aged 16 to 24 they take on, on top of other support (Personnel Today).
An apprenticeship is a real job: you are paid from day one, at least £8.00 an hour if you are under 19 or in your first year (gov.uk), and you finish with a qualification. Competition is high, with 96 applications per apprenticeship at large employers (ISE), so a placement or volunteering on your CV first can make a difference. Smaller local employers often get far fewer applicants.
How do you get a job with no experience at 19 or 20?
Stack the routes rather than waiting for one perfect job.
- Take a placement if you can get one. A two to four-week placement with an interview at the end is one of the shortest routes into a first job right now.
- Go for seasonal work. Christmas recruitment is one of the few areas adding large numbers of roles this autumn. We list who is hiring in Christmas jobs 2026.
- Consider temp work. Temp roles are often easier to get, and a good assignment can turn permanent. We weigh it up in is temp work worth it?
- Volunteer regularly. A few hours every week for a few months gives you a reference and real examples to talk about.
- Get free advice. Jobcentres now offer careers guidance from qualified advisers, whether or not you claim benefits, by phone on 0800 072 0288, online or face to face (Personnel Today).
What are employers actually screening for?
Less than you might think, and nothing you cannot show. In Reed's survey of more than 2,000 employers, the biggest concerns about young applicants were understanding of the working environment (34%), communication (33%), reliability and timekeeping (32%) and problem solving (29%). At the same time, 73% said recruiting young people was a priority (Reed).
That means your application should prove three things: you turn up, you communicate clearly and you understand how work works. A placement, a volunteering role, a caring responsibility or a sports team can all show this, as long as you describe them properly. Our guide to getting work experience when first jobs dry up shows how to write them up.
What could change in the Budget?
The Budget on 28 October may bring more. City AM has reported that the Chancellor is considering cutting the cost of hiring under-25s, either by extending employer National Insurance relief or through a temporary tax holiday (City AM). Alan Milburn's review of young people and work is also expected after the Budget. None of this is confirmed, and we will update this page once the details are out.
The bottom line
Being out of work at 18 to 24 is more common than it should be, but the routes back in are wider this winter than they were a year ago. Ask your work coach about placements, look at apprenticeships with smaller local employers, take seasonal or temp work if it is there, and make every bit of experience count on your CV.
Your Journey breaks your next steps into a clear plan, and the CV Builder helps you write a first CV that makes the most of the experience you have. Start yours at mypathfinder.uk