Jobless Banquet: Youth unemployment surge ‘sends Neets to KFC’
A surge in youth unemployment has fuelled the rise of chicken shops across British high streets as young people not in work, education or training – known as Neets – have flocked to fast food, a consultancy has argued. Analysts at Baringa, a consultancy with more than 2,000 employees, have drawn a link between the [...]
Youth unemployment has skyrocketed in the UK, creating a demand for fast food options among young people not in work, education or training, known as Neets. The "Chicken Wing Economy," a term coined by Baringa consultancy, describes this trend, with analysts linking the rise of chicken shops to the increasing number of Neets. Between 2018 and 2025, the number of fast food restaurants has grown at a rate five times higher than traditional sit-down restaurants.
Data shows that the youth unemployment rate has climbed from 10.9% in 2017 to 16.2% in 2020, with over a million young people classified as Neets. Influencers and social media content have popularized chicken shops among Gen Z, and the expansion of US fast-food chains like Popeyes and Chick-fil-A into the UK has fueled this trend.
The consultancy Mintel estimates the UK's chicken market to be worth £5 billion by 2029, up from £2.3 billion in 2022. High costs and labor regulations, such as the rise in the national minimum wage and employers' national insurance contributions, have contributed to youth unemployment. As fast food becomes an increasingly attractive option for young people facing unemployment, chicken shops have become a prominent feature on British high streets.
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