'Britain facing economic catastrophe' over joblessness as Amazon UK boss urges: 'Don't blame young people!'

Britain faces the prospect of an "economic catastrophe" unless urgent action is taken to tackle the growing number of young people outside employment, education or training, according to a forthcoming report by former minister Alan Milburn.

The interim report, which is due to be published next week, examines why nearly one million people aged between 16 and 24 have become economically inactive across the country.

It comes as Amazon UK chief executive John Boumphrey has urged the public to stop blaming young people for rising unemployment, arguing Britain's education system is failing to prepare students for work.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Boumphrey said schools and colleges were not "producing young people who are ready for work".

The Amazon UK country manager rejected suggestions that unemployed young people lacked motivation or resilience.

"We have to stop blaming young people," he said.

"It's not a motivation problem - it's a system problem, and that requires a system response."

Amazon currently operates 100 sites across Britain, including 30 warehouses, and employs around 75,000 workers nationwide.

According to the company, around half of its workforce joins directly from education or unemployment.

"I think too often you read about young people that somehow they lack motivation, they lack resilience, they lack the will to develop skills. That is not our experience," Mr Boumphrey said.

He highlighted an Amazon programme supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism, arguing those considered furthest from employment frequently showed the greatest progress.

Mr Boumphrey also pointed to T-level students completing week-long placements, saying they quickly developed teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities which employers consistently value.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed youth unemployment rose to 16.2 per cent in the three months to March, marking the highest level recorded in more than a decade.

Mr Milburn's findings identify a "rising tide of mental ill health, anxiety, depression and neurodiversity" as one of the principal causes behind the increase in economic inactivity among younger Britons.

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The report also points to smartphones and social media as major contributors to what it describes as a growing "bedroom generation" among British youth.

According to the findings, this generation has experienced worsening sleep quality and declining levels of concentration linked to excessive screen use.

The report paints a stark picture of teenage behaviour and digital dependency among younger age groups.

"Every one of a group of ten 12 and 13-year-olds told us they went to bed between midnight and 3am because they were scrolling on their phone," the report states.

The findings warn late-night screen use has contributed to rising levels of anxiety and depression among younger people.

Mr Milburn's research argues that the digital environment has fundamentally reshaped how young Britons communicate, build relationships and cope with pressure.

Speaking to The Times, Mr Milburn rejected suggestions that younger generations were simply "snowflakes" and warned Britain risked "just writing a whole generation off".

The report stresses that younger people are different from previous generations, rather than being less capable or less willing to work.

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"They have grown up in a digital world that has rewired how they communicate, form relationships and manage stress," the document states.

"They have fewer experiences of workplaces, and they present with higher levels of anxiety and depression."

The Covid pandemic is also identified as a major factor behind the growing trend, with many current 16 to 24-year-olds having spent key educational years affected by school and college closures during lockdown restrictions.

The report argues the combined impact of digital immersion and disrupted education has left many young people poorly prepared for traditional working environments.

Mr Milburn contends Britain's one million NEETs could help address long-standing labour shortages across the economy if employers are willing to make appropriate adjustments for younger workers entering employment.

The former minister also argues welfare reform will be "a necessity" in helping younger generations move into the workforce.

Separate research published earlier this week added to concerns surrounding the influence of social media on younger employees and workplace attitudes.

The study, which involved discussions with 400 young people, suggested social media was contributing to a growing "quitting culture" among younger workers.

Researchers found some participants enjoyed "the dopamine hit of a new job, but then get bored very quickly and want to move on".

The findings also highlighted widespread concerns among students schools are failing to prepare young people adequately for employment and long-term careers.

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