Only 5% of people working in local government are aged under 25, research has revealed.
A survey by Commercial Services Group, a public sector trading organisation, found that over 80% of Gen Z (aged between 18-25) were not informed about local government job opportunities.
According to the research, only one in five of the 512 participants surveyed reported knowing somebody employed in the local government sector.
Over one third of Gen Z respondents (37.1%) also said they would be interested by paid internships, while others were revealed to feel dissuaded by numerous interview stages (34.4%) and long application forms (31.6%).
Helen Lock, Managing Director of Recruitment Managed Services, Commercial Services Group said: ‘We know the jobs market is becoming tougher for young people, with graduate opportunities declining nationally. The number of graduate roles advertised is down 33% compared to 2024, and at the lowest level in seven years.
‘Councils are perfectly placed to step in and offer early career routes that combine progression with community impact, something that matters enormously to young talent today.
‘By simplifying the application process, and promoting flexibility, councils can build a pipeline of young talent to help protect our most precious public services of the future.’
Ms Lock encouraged local authorities to use digital platforms to share recruitment content and engage with young talent to become ‘more approachable and accessible’ to Gen Z.
