Leeds Manufacturing Festival Returns - as Employers Step up to Tackle Skills Gap and Rising Youth Unemployment

Leeds Manufacturing Festival returns - as employers step up to tackle skills gap and rising youth unemployment

Manufacturing and engineering employers across Leeds are stepping up efforts to tackle the sector’s ongoing skills shortage, as youth unemployment reaches a ten-year high.

Leeds Industry Leaders Tackle Youth Unemployment As Skills Gap Widens

Manufacturers and engineering firms across Leeds are ramping up efforts to recruit young talent as youth unemployment hits a 10-year high.The Leeds Manufacturing Festival has returned for 2026, launching this week with a sold-out event. The expanded programme aims to connect local businesses directly with young people through T Levels, apprenticeships, and graduate roles. With the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds reaching 16% at the end …