At 11.7%, the UK’s youth unemployment rate remains worse than many other countries, and today more than one in eight ( 12.6%) of the UK’s under-25s are neither working nor in full-time study.

Talent has become of increasing concern to the data and marketing industry since the pandemic began. According to the DMA’s latest research insights, which asked 220 senior marketers what they believed were the biggest challenges impacting the data and marketing industry, “retaining talent” ( 53%) and “attracting talent” ( 49%) were seen as two of the three most significant issues; diversity and inclusion ( 58%) was the most cited challenge.

To help resolve this, the DMA has launched its marketing jobs board to provide trusted entry-level talent to organisations across the industry. This recruitment tool is designed to encourage DMA members to support young people into their first role, while ensuring aspiring marketers can apply for roles with ethical organisations who comply with the DMA code.

“With youth employment hit hard due to the coronavirus epidemic, we remain determined to support young talent at a crossroads in their career who are seeking entry-level roles”, said Kate Burnett, general manager of DMA Talent.

"Marketing recruitment had a short-term outlook long before the pandemic – this needs to change. There is a tendency across the industry to hire experienced people rather than grow, upskill and support our own people and the next generation.”