BRC urges government to back Saturday jobs as a vital first step into work
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling on the government to ensure employment reforms do not make it harder for retailers to create entry-level jobs, as new polling reveals four in five Britons see Saturday jobs as a vital pathway into work for young people.
A new survey by Opinium, commissioned by the BRC, found that 80% of UK adults believe part-time work, including the traditional “Saturday job,” is important in helping young people into employment. This rose to 91% among people aged 55 and over, underlining the value many place on these jobs as their own first steps into the world of work.
Subscribe to TRBAccording to BRC figures, retail and its supply chain account for almost a quarter (23%) of all youth employment. Around 780,000 retail jobs are held by 16 to 25-year-olds, with more than half (55%) working part-time.
The BRC said Saturday jobs give young people the chance to earn their first wage, gain workplace experience and develop the confidence and skills they need for future careers.
However, it warned that these roles are under pressure, with retail losing almost 400,000 jobs over the past decade, thereby reducing the number of entry-level opportunities available to young people.
The call follows the BRC’s warning last week that the government’s plans to ban zero-hour contracts could cost businesses up to £3 billion, according to the government’s own figures.
To protect entry-level opportunities, the BRC wants Guaranteed Hours reforms to remain proportionate, an increase to the NICs threshold to encourage entry-level hiring, and the separate National Minimum Wage rate for 18 to 20-year-olds to be retained.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “For generations, Saturday jobs have given young people their first experience of work, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and take the first step in their careers. Retail has proudly provided these opportunities for millions of people, but they are becoming harder to sustain.”
“If the Burnham government is serious about tackling youth unemployment, it must not make it harder to create entry-level jobs. After £6.5 billion in additional employment costs over the past two years, businesses need policies that encourage recruiting young people, not discourage it. That means reducing the cost of employing young people, and proportionate Guaranteed Hours reforms.”
