“You can be under the age of 25 and living on your own, like me, and you get less pay than someone in the same situation as you but who is older. Age is the only difference”.
This is from the July 2018 report (pdf) from Young Women’s Trust on the discrimination young people face when it comes to pay and
benefits.
This report shows that fair pay does not just benefit young people. It boosts businesses’ productivity too.
The report finds:
- 1.07 million people under-25 earn less than the National Living Wage
- 37% say their financial of young people situation causes them anxiety
- Nine in ten (89%) say that under-25s are as or more likely to contribute fresh ideas to their organisation as older workers.
The report recommends:
- Significantly increasing the apprentice national minimum wage, so more people can afford to undertake apprenticeships
- That the Low Pay Commission plans how it can effectively roll out the National Living Wage for all young people, and the Government commits to doing so as soon as possible
- Bringing the youth rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit in line with the over-25 rate and extending the same eligibility for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card to young people
- That employers pay the Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, to all workers and contracted-out staff+.