Amazon UK Boss Says Young People Are Not To Blame For Unemployment Crisis

As youth unemployment in the United Kingdom reaches its highest level in nearly a decade, the head of Amazon’s UK operations says young people are being unfairly blamed for a crisis they did not create.

John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK country manager, believes the real problem lies in a system that is failing to prepare young people for the realities of work.

“We have to stop blaming young people,” Boumphrey told the BBC.

“It’s not a motivation problem – it’s a system problem, and that requires a system response.”

His comments come at a time when almost one million young Britons are not in education, employment or training, despite growing concerns from businesses struggling to find skilled workers.

The Numbers Behind The Crisis

Recent official figures showed the UK unemployment rate rising to 5% in the three months leading to March, up slightly from 4.9% in the previous quarter.

But the situation is far more severe among younger people.

Unemployment for those aged between 16 and 24 has climbed to 16.2% — the highest level recorded since late 2014.

Economists and labour experts warn the trend is beginning to resemble the sharp employment declines seen during the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jane Foley described the figures as alarming.

“Hospitality jobs is where many of us, including myself, would have originally got your initial taste of work experience when we were young,” she said.

“But those jobs, partly because of minimum wage legislation, but partly because of technology also have been shutting the door perhaps on a lot of young people.”

The Call For Mandatory Work Experience

Boumphrey argues that one of the biggest missing links is meaningful workplace exposure for teenagers before they enter the labour market.

He believes work experience should become compulsory for everyone over the age of 16.

According to him, real-world workplace exposure teaches skills that classrooms often fail to provide.

“If you get a T-level student, they come in for a week, they understand the value of teamwork, of communication and problem solving,” he said.

Work experience, he added, can be “transformative” in helping young people develop confidence and workplace readiness.

The UK Department for Education already expects post-16 education providers to offer work experience opportunities, but Boumphrey believes a broader and more coordinated effort is needed.

Amazon’s Hiring Challenge

Ironically, while thousands of young Britons struggle to secure jobs, Amazon says it faces the opposite problem – a shortage of workers with the technical skills it increasingly needs.

Amazon employs around 75,000 people across the UK, with roughly half coming directly from education or unemployment.

The company operates about 100 sites nationwide, including dozens of warehouses and logistics centres.

Boumphrey said technological changes inside Amazon’s operations have created entirely new categories of jobs.

When the company introduced robots into warehouses, many feared automation would eliminate human roles.

“Actually, the reverse happened…we ended up employing more people,” he said.

Today, Amazon says it urgently needs workers capable of maintaining robotic systems and automated equipment.

“Mechatronics engineers, people who can actually maintain the robots, people who are technicians… they’re not roles that exist. We can’t find enough people to fill those roles.”

Young People Say They Are Trying

For many unemployed young people, the suggestion that they lack ambition or effort feels deeply unfair.

One of them is 26-year-old Andy Wilkins from Southend-on-Sea in Essex.

After leaving his previous job nearly a year ago, Wilkins has struggled to find employment despite applying widely.

The graduate of University of East London says his savings have been wiped out by rising living costs, leaving him dependent on approximately £400 per month through Universal Credit.

He has applied for entry-level roles at supermarkets and retailers including Lidl, Aldi and Primark, while also being rejected by companies such as Burger King, Superdrug and Next.

“I am desperate to work, no job is too big or too small – I have that sort of mindset,” he said.

His experience reflects a growing frustration among young people who say they are eager to work but cannot break into an increasingly difficult labour market.

Businesses Asked To Do More

Boumphrey believes solving the problem requires stronger partnerships between businesses, local governments and educational institutions.

“I think you need businesses to come together with local governments and further education colleges,” he said.

“And you need that to happen on a regional basis so that you can understand what the skills gaps are.”

Some business leaders say companies also have a social responsibility to provide opportunities for young people.

Niki Fuchs, co-founder of Office Space in Town, described work experience as a mindset rather than a burden.

She said she regularly offers placements to teenagers connected to her staff and clients because businesses have a role to play in preparing the next generation.

The Wider Debate Around Amazon

Boumphrey’s interview also revived long-running debates about Amazon’s economic impact in the UK.

The company has faced repeated scrutiny over the amount of tax it pays relative to its massive sales growth, particularly following the rapid expansion of online shopping during the pandemic.

Earlier this year, Amazon overtook Walmart to become the world’s largest company by annual sales.

In the UK alone, the company reportedly accounts for roughly 30% of all online retail sales.

Asked about criticism surrounding corporate taxation, Boumphrey defended Amazon’s contribution to the British economy.

“Last year we contributed more than £5.8bn,” he said.

Amazon has consistently declined to disclose the exact amount it pays specifically in corporation tax, though Boumphrey said the company pays more than £1 billion in direct taxes, including business rates, national insurance contributions and digital services taxes.

“Of course we pay all the tax we’re meant to pay, but when you think about our contribution, it isn’t just the amount of tax we pay, it’s also the 75,000 jobs we create.”

A System Under Pressure

The debate surrounding youth unemployment increasingly reflects deeper questions about education, automation and the future of work itself.

As technology reshapes industries and entry-level jobs disappear, many young people are finding it harder than previous generations to gain that crucial first step into employment.

For Boumphrey, blaming young people misses the larger issue entirely.

The challenge, he argues, is building a system capable of preparing them for a rapidly changing economy – before an entire generation risks being left behind.