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London Job Market: 140 Applicants per Role, Youth Hit Hard

2/2/2026

28 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Tooba Ahmed, a graduate with a master's degree, moved to London in search of work and is reconsidering after applying for over 100 positions.
Competition for entry-level roles has surged to about 140 applicants per vacancy, up from 38 in 2003.
London’s unemployment rate is 7.2%, the highest in the United Kingdom.
Youth unemployment for ages 16 to 24 was 18.6% in September 2025, underscoring hardship for young people.

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Story summary

Tooba Ahmed, a graduate with a master's degree, moved to London in search of work and is reconsidering after applying for over 100 positions.
Competition for entry-level roles has surged to about 140 applicants per vacancy, up from 38 in 2003.
London’s unemployment rate is 7.2%, the highest in the United Kingdom.
Youth unemployment for ages 16 to 24 was 18.6% in September 2025, underscoring hardship for young people.