The UK is facing a youth employment problem that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Youth unemployment has risen to around 16.2%, with more than one million young people now classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training) – the highest figure in over a decade. Government-backed reports have warned of a potential “lost generation” if opportunities don’t improve, while employers across multiple industries are being urged to create more entry-level routes into work.
So here’s a question for the talent management industry:
Are we doing enough?
This is an industry built by young people, for young people. Many of today’s agency founders, talent managers and creator economy leaders didn’t follow traditional career paths. They built careers in an industry that barely existed 10 or 15 years ago.
Yet as the industry matures, many agencies are becoming increasingly focused on hiring experienced operators – often from other agencies. The result? We risk creating an ecosystem where everyone is recruiting from the same talent pool whilst failing to develop the next generation.
That’s a mistake.
The reality is that many of the skills that make great talent managers can’t be taught in a lecture theatre. Relationship-building. Commercial instinct. Cultural awareness. Understanding creators. Understanding audiences. These are often learned through experience, mentorship and opportunity.
And let’s be honest, if there is one generation that understands creators, social media and digital culture instinctively, it’s the one currently struggling to get a foot on the career ladder.
This isn’t an argument against experience. It’s an argument for investment.
Whether through internships, apprenticeships, work experience programmes, mentoring schemes or junior roles, the talent management industry has a genuine opportunity to help tackle a national problem while strengthening its own future workforce.
Because if we believe in helping creators build sustainable careers, shouldn’t we be doing the same for the people who will eventually manage them?
The creator economy often talks about “community”. This feels like a chance to prove it.
The next great talent manager is probably out there right now. The question is whether we’re willing to give them their first opportunity.
