Share of people in the UK in full-time employment from 1998 to 2018, by age group

The age at which young people in the UK enter the workforce is increasing. While nearly half of all 16 and 17 year olds were in full-time employment in 1998, just over one quarter of those aged 16 or 17 were in full-time employment as of 2018. Similarly, those aged 18 to 24 are now slightly more likely to be out of the workforce, as part of a trend which sees more young people completing upper secondary or tertiary education, with the source also stating that the average age at which young Brits leave education has risen from 17.8 years in 1998 to 19.3 years in 2018.

For people older than 35, there has been an increase in the employment rate across the board. This, however, is most notable in those aged 50 or older, with the employment rate for the group aged 50 to 64 years increasing from 59.1% in 1998 to 71.8% in 2018. Additionally, the share of those aged 65 or over in full-time employment has more than doubled over the course of two decades.