Young people in Kingston say they are struggling to find part-time employment.

According to Properistics, over 20 per cent of Kingston's population is made up of students, however, many jobs in the area are only available to those aged 18+ and willing to work full-time.

One local student told Nub News that a "café Saturday job is the dream" and that employment for students is "a rare opportunity".

Another student said that she is struggling to afford going out with friends and that she is relying on "answering surveys, the government, and [her] parents for income".

This is also an issue that is affecting the entire country, with the BBC reporting that 13 per cent of 16 - 24 year olds are not in employment, education or training.

There are also concerns amongst young people around the use of AI in the job screening process, and how many of these systems filter out applicants that have little experience.

A local sixth form student told Nub News that "no one will pay teens even if things need doing" and that there is a "lack of knowledge about what starter jobs are available".

A Kingston parent, Chris Louter, stated that "things have changed so much". When he was a young person, he worked in Richmond's Waitrose branch after "telling the manager [he] had friends working there."

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"Now it's all central HR and faceless. My son has tried nearly everywhere," he said.

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