For generations, young people have been told the path to opportunity is clear. Study hard, get a degree, and success will follow. This promise – central to the idea of “meritocracy” – has shaped the aspirations and investments of millions (though in reality, access to university and employment is also shaped by factors like family income, schooling and geography).
Today, however, many graduates in the UK and elsewhere are struggling to land a job – and it’s a problem which extends far beyond finding roles that match their qualifications. In some cases, graduates are being turned down for roles in supermarkets or warehouses – not because they’re unqualified, but because they’re seen as overqualified, too risky or surplus to requirements.
