Amazon UK country manager John Boumphrey said young people should not be blamed for rising youth unemployment, pointing to failures in the education system to prepare them adequately for work [1, 2]. He said, "We have to stop blaming young people. It’s not a motivation problem, it’s a system problem, and that requires a system response" [2].
The UK youth job market remains weak, with about one million young people not in education, employment, or training, amid cuts in hospitality and graduate recruitment schemes [1, 2]. The country’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 5% in the three months to March 2026, from 4.9% previously [1, 2].
Amazon employs roughly 75,000 people in the UK across about 100 sites, including 30 warehouses [1, 2]. About half of Amazon’s UK workforce is hired directly from education or unemployment, reflecting the company’s role in providing jobs to young workers [1, 2]. Boumphrey highlighted the importance of early work experience, saying, "If you get a T-level student, they come in for a week, they understand the value of teamwork, of communication and problem solving" [2].
However, Amazon struggles to recruit people with the necessary skills, especially in technical and engineering positions. The rise of automation and robotics in its warehouses has created demand for roles such as mechatronics engineers and mechanics, which are difficult to fill [1, 2].
John Boumphrey called for compulsory work experience placements for all students aged 16 and above to better equip young people for the workforce [1, 2].
Amazon UK contributed more than £5.8 billion in taxes last year, with Boumphrey emphasizing the company’s financial and employment contributions: "Last year we contributed over £5.8 billion. We do pay all the taxes we should, but our contribution is also about the 75,000 jobs we create" [1].
The UK saw its unemployment rate increase to 5% in the three months to March 2026. Earlier this year, Amazon also topped the world’s annual sales rankings, surpassing Walmart [1].
