Next CEO Warns Youth Job Crisis Deepens as Shop Applications Double

Next, a major UK high‑street retailer, has warned of a dramatic fall in entry‑level shop jobs. Lord Wolfson told the BBC that two years ago the chain received about ten applicants for each shop vacancy; now that figure is nineteen. He also noted a forthcoming ban on zero‑hours contracts will make flexible hiring harder, while the government says the change gives workers a baseline of security.

- Applications per shop job at Next have doubled from 10 to 19 in two years. - Youth unemployment for 16‑ to 24‑year‑olds stands at 16.2%, over three times the general unemployment rate of 5%. - Government policies have increased Next's annual wage bill by £70 million.

The surge in applicants shows more young people competing for fewer shop roles, reflecting a broader labour‑market squeeze. Higher wage bills, driven by minimum‑wage rises and employer‑national‑insurance increases, are pressuring retailers to trim staff or invest in automation. Next says it is already using self‑scanning lockers and other tech to offset labour costs, while its online arm continues to grow. The retailer argues that sustainable job growth depends on overall economic expansion rather than isolated wage cuts.