John Boumphrey, the UK chief of Amazon, has urged for mandatory work experience for teenagers, citing a 'national crisis' in youth unemployment, which has surged to 16.2% among 16 to 24-year-olds—the highest in 11 years. Boumphrey criticized the education system for not adequately preparing students for the workforce, stating that it is unfair to label young people as work-shy. He emphasized that the issue lies within the system itself and requires a comprehensive response. Boumphrey advocates for collaboration between local colleges and government entities to create work placement opportunities, highlighting that even a single week of work experience can be transformative for young individuals. This experience helps them develop essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, which are often overlooked in traditional curricula. Additionally, he pointed out that rising operational costs, including minimum wage increases and National Insurance contributions, have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to hire young workers. Boumphrey's comments reflect a growing concern among business leaders regarding the employability of young people in the current economic climate.