Brits call to lower state pension age ‘to free up jobs’

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the state pension age to be lowered to free up jobs for youngsters. Helen Grice, who launched the campaign, argues the move would also help the older generation "enjoy the last few years of their life" sooner.

Ms Grice said: "Lower the State Pension age for workers so young adults who don't currently work have more chance of getting a job. The longer people are having to work the fewer jobs there are out there for young adults. If the Government lowered the State Pension age, we believe it could encourage retirement so that employers might take on a young adult to fill the space. That would help young people get jobs and also help the older generation that have done their bit for society and get to enjoy the last few years of their life." (SIC)

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The petition has garnered nearly 1,000 signatures so far. Under current rules, a petition triggers a Government response when it reaches 10,000 signatures. At 100,000, it becomes eligible for a debate in Parliament.

It has until December 25, 2026, to meet these milestones, after which the petition will close.

It comes as the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the headline unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9% in the three months to June. City economists had forecast it to drop to 4.8%.

At the same time, job vacancies fell to a five-year low as small businesses warned of rising employment costs. There were 707,000 in May to July, a drop of 6,000 from the previous three months.

"The UK labour market remains stuck in a low-churn limbo, with employers reluctant to hire, fire or offer bigger pay rises as they grapple with rising costs, intensifying global headwinds and heightened policy uncertainty," said Suren Thiru, chief economist at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

"The persistent slide in vacancies is a red flag for the jobs market, suggesting labour demand is shrinking amid soaring employment and energy costs, while greater automation is also squeezing some entry-level roles."

Official figures released earlier this year revealed more than one million young people were not in education, employment or training (NEET) - the highest level in more than 12 years.

There were 1,012,000 young people classed as NEET between January and March 2026, making up 13.5% of all young people in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Yet, 84% of Neet young people surveyed said they want a job or training.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the review laid "bare the scale of the challenge and the root causes of youth unemployment we now need to confront".

"We are already taking action by bringing forward the biggest youth employment reforms in a generation to create 500,000 opportunities for young people, including a Youth Jobs Grant for businesses starting next month, more apprenticeships, and subsidised employment to help young people get a foot on the ladder," McFadden said.

However, the impact of more people claiming the state pension benefit earlier would add yet more pressure to the country's soaring welfare bill.

The state pension already constitutes a significant portion of Government spending, accounting for approximately 5% of GDP. This figure is projected to rise to 9% of GDP in the next 50 years.

Subsequently, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned that the state pension, which increases every year in line with the triple lock pledge (the highest of wage growth, inflation, or 2.5%), was on an "unsustainable" path.

The state pension age is gradually rising from 66 to 67, in a process that started in April 2026 and is due to end in April 2027.

Eligibility for people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, is phased in by specific monthly increases rather than a single fixed date. A further rise to age 68 is currently pencilled in between 2044 and 2046.

Here is a breakdown of when people born between these dates will reach state pension age under current rules.