Guardian to follow lives of eight young people in their search for work

The Guardian is launching a new series to document the lives of eight young people as they navigate the struggles of finding employment in uncertain economic times. The series aims to highlight one of the biggest crises facing the UK – the social contract is broken for young people who feel shut out of careers. Britain currently has almost a million young people struggling to transition from school to the world of work, with one in eight young people being affected.

These eight young people, from across the country, will share their stories of job-seeking during the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, as AI continues to disrupt the job market.

Each participant, aged between 20 and 26, will reflect on their experiences with employers and the welfare state. The youngest participant, 20 years old, and the oldest, 26, are just outside the age range used to compile official statistics, but their experiences are critical as they face the long-term consequences of being "Not in Education, Employment or Training" (Neet).

The long-term effects of being Neet can be profound, with those who reach the age of 24 without ever having worked potentially losing up to £300,000 in earnings over their lifetime. Many participants feel a heavy financial and emotional toll, with feelings of rejection and guilt for still living at home and relying on their parents.

The series comes as Andy Burnham, the UK's deputy prime minister, promises to restore hope for the next generation by helping more young people into work. His government aims to tackle the rise in the number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (Neet), which has reached a decade-high. The Guardian series will provide insights into the challenges faced by young jobseekers and the potential solutions to address this crisis.