Grace Astley, a 22-year-old criminology graduate from Birmingham City University, remains unemployed a year after earning her degree, burdened by £70,000 in debt. She shared her 'upsetting' experience amid official figures showing over one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training – the highest level in more than a decade.
Graduate's struggle for full-time employment
Astley, from Maypole, graduated last July but has been unable to secure a full-time job. She has worked part-time at Nando's and HMV while sending out around 60 applications. Despite her criminology degree, she has not received any interviews for related roles, such as police or social work.
Astley also has epilepsy, which prevents her from driving. She noted that many police and social work positions require a driving licence, limiting her opportunities. 'I think someone could have told me that before I went to university, because then I could've gone into office work,' she told BirminghamLive.
Impact of driving restrictions
Astley described reaching the final stages of job applications only to be rejected due to her inability to drive. 'It did upset me for a bit to be fair, because I feel like I've just wasted my time at university because I'm not getting a proper job,' she said.
She expressed concern about her future, including her ability to move out and achieve financial stability. 'How am I going to be able to survive when I don't have a proper job at 22? I feel like I should have a stable income, but I don't,' she added.
Call for government action
Reflecting on national youth unemployment figures, Astley urged the Government to 'do something.' She criticised the cost of university, suggesting lower tuition fees would reduce debt. 'I think if you get rid of how much you pay for university, [even if] it's made cheaper, it wouldn't be as bad, we wouldn't be in so much debt,' she said.
Astley also highlighted the lack of entry-level jobs, noting that many positions require years of experience. 'I've been in education consistently from the ages of five to 21, where am I getting this experience from?' she questioned.
Future aspirations
Despite her setbacks, Astley is now exploring alternative career paths, including investigative journalism. She continues to seek full-time employment while managing her part-time roles and debt.
