{
  "id": 10911102,
  "title": "Prosecco pratfalls and coffee catastrophes: Neets are missing out on formative first-job experiences | Isabel Brooks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/prosecco-pratfalls-and-coffee-catastrophes-neets-are-missing-out-on",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-30T09:00:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/30/neets-formative-first-job-experiences-hospitality-industry"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prosecco spills and coffee spills: young people are missing out on their first job experiences. Working in the hospitality industry is not only a source of income, but also a way to learn valuable life skills. Many remember their first job in the service sector, whether it's pouring drinks, serving food, or handling trays of ice cream. These experiences teach individuals how to deal with mistakes and interactions with angry customers or challenging managers. The author started working in the industry at 14, pouring drinks and serving food, and credits those 10 years of experience with shaping their character. However, this type of character-building opportunity is now under threat. Job postings for temporary work in hospitality in the UK decreased by 25% between 2024 and 2025, with 22,369 fewer unique postings. Hospitality leaders attribute the decline to rising wage and tax costs, but young people are paying the price. Nearly 1 million young people in the UK are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), despite 84% actively seeking work. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has warned that the industry relies heavily on 16- to 24-year-olds, and the impact of the shortage will be felt by teenagers seeking their first job. In Manchester, Nell's Pizza advertised 10 part-time roles for individuals aged 14 to 18, but received over 2,000 applications.",
  "summary": "Work in the hospitality industry made me who I am. Without it, young people are denied not only an income and a step on the career ladder, but important life skills Everyone remembers their first job. More often than not, it’s in the service industry. I started at 14, pouring drinks, serving food and standing with an ice-cream tray. This is where I learned how to handle mistakes, such as dropping…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}