The Prime Minister said virtual interviews and artificial intelligence risk disadvantaging young job seekers

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has criticised the growing use of Zoom interviews and artificial intelligence in recruitment, arguing the trend is making it harder for young people to find work.

Speaking on Jimmy McLoughlin's podcast Jimmy's Jobs of the Future, the Prime Minister said employers' increasing reliance on virtual interviews disadvantages younger candidates trying to secure their first roles.

Mr Burnham said: "One thing I really don't like is this culture now of interviewing via Zoom or Teams. How does a young person shine in that situation?"

He argued that technology-led recruitment risks favouring candidates who provide more rehearsed responses rather than those whose personalities come across more naturally in person.

Mr Burnham said: "It seems to me to then work against people who have that side to their character and work for those who are just giving the more formulaic answer."

The Prime Minister added that the issue is one he has seen first-hand through his own children's experiences of applying for jobs.

His comments come as official figures show more than one million people aged 16 to 25 are not in education, employment or training, the highest level in more than 12 years.

At the same time, job vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in five years, increasing competition for available positions.

Employers are also making greater use of artificial intelligence during recruitment.

Research from LinkedIn found that 89 per cent of UK recruiters plan to increase their use of AI tools in recruitment this year.

Some young job seekers have told the BBC they submitted hundreds of applications without receiving a response, describing the experience as "robotic and brutal".

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said digital interviews remain useful during the early stages of recruitment but should not replace face-to-face interaction entirely.

Maxine Bligh, director of public policy at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said: "AI tools are helpful, even essential, when dealing with a huge volume of applications, but it takes skill and professionalism to make the right call."

Ms Bligh added: "Go digital where it matters and human where it counts."

Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive of the Digital Poverty Alliance, said online interviews can improve access for candidates living outside major cities.

However, she argued the greater concern is the growing use of artificial intelligence to screen applications.

Ms Anderson said automated CV screening can disadvantage young applicants because many school leavers are unfamiliar with tailoring applications for AI recruitment systems.

Mr Burnham also proposed giving businesses that offer six-week work placements to teenagers an advantage when bidding for Government contracts.

The Prime Minister said he wants to increase the number of 45-day placements available to young people aged 16 to 18, allowing them to gain workplace experience and practical skills.

He also urged business leaders to provide more work shadowing opportunities for young people who lack professional networks.

Mr Burnham said the proposals would use Government purchasing power to encourage employers to invest more heavily in young people rather than relying primarily on automated recruitment systems.

The plans form part of a wider package of education reforms announced by the Government earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Mr Burnham unveiled proposals to introduce new technical education pathways from the age of 14, placing vocational qualifications on an equal footing with traditional academic routes.

Under the proposals, pupils entering Year 10 would study core subjects including English and maths alongside technical qualifications linked to local employment opportunities.

The proposals follow a review published in May by former minister Alan Milburn, which warned that employment prospects for young people are deteriorating.

His report warned that without intervention, one in six young people could be outside employment, education or training within the next five years.