Sky News Daily Can’t work, won’t work: Why is youth unemployment so high?
Dec 16, 2025
Shazana Davis, known as the Fairy Job Mother, is a careers adviser and social media influencer dedicated to helping young people navigate the job market. In this discussion, she delves into the multifaceted causes of high youth unemployment, including automation, mental health impacts, and skill mismatches. Shazana also examines if degrees are still valuable and highlights alternative career paths like apprenticeships. Plus, she offers practical job-seeking tips and addresses misconceptions about young job seekers being 'too picky'.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Multiple Causes Behind Youth Unemployment
- Youth unemployment is high due to multiple interacting factors like slower economic growth, rising business costs, automation, mental health and regional skill mismatches.
- Shazana Davis warns there is no single cause and the data should be read with nuance.
Choose Alternatives To A Degree
- Consider apprenticeships, bootcamps or entry-level roles instead of defaulting to a degree if your career doesn't require one.
- Stay open to reskilling and adapt to fast-changing tech and AI-driven job shifts, says Shazana Davis.
'Pickiness' Reflects Economic Reality
- Young people's apparent pickiness often reflects realistic calculations about low entry-level pay and unstable prospects.
- Shazana Davis argues it's not laziness but a response to unmet expectations and poor pay in many entry roles.