Amazon UK Leader Calls Youth Joblessness a System Failure, Not a Motivation Gap

Nearly one million 16‑ to 24‑year‑olds in the UK are not in education, employment or training, a figure that has risen alongside a weak jobs market. Amazon UK employs 75,000 staff, half of whom come straight from school or unemployment, yet the company reports difficulty finding workers with the skills it needs.

- Amazon UK contributed more than £5.8 billion in taxes last year, according to its country manager. - The same executive said that introducing robots in its warehouses did not cut jobs; instead, it created new roles such as mechatronics engineers and technicians, leading to higher overall hiring. - He argued that blaming young people for unemployment is misplaced, describing the issue as a system problem that requires a coordinated response from businesses, government and colleges.

The remarks shift the debate from individual responsibility to structural gaps in skills training and work readiness. By linking tax contributions, automation outcomes and recruitment challenges, Amazon frames its own growth as tied to broader workforce development. Policymakers may face pressure to expand work‑experience programmes and align curricula with employer needs.