HASLEMERE, England, Feb 19 – Martin “Oz” Austwick earned £50,000 a year as head of commercial at a web development agency until it closed just before Christmas 2024, leaving the 52-year-old without a job.
“We had a decent Christmas, and then I started panicking in January,” he said. However, Austwick quickly returned to a backup plan: working as a Deliveroo rider in his Surrey town.
His story mirrors wider labour market weakness. Job postings on Indeed remain 19% below pre-pandemic levels, while the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reports hiring intentions at their lowest outside the first pandemic year. Additionally, 17% of employers expect artificial intelligence to cut jobs within 12 months.
According to the Office for National Statistics, workers aged 50 and over were most likely to face redundancy last year. Graduate vacancies have fallen 8% year on year, and middle management roles continue to shrink.
Consequently, many white-collar professionals now turn to food delivery, logistics and service roles, which have recorded modest growth. Austwick earns about £300 a week, sometimes making £25 an hour before expenses, by targeting peak delivery times.
Nevertheless, with four children at home and no savings after a past family illness, the income falls short. His wife works part-time, providing some financial stability.
In September, however, Austwick won a share of £40,000 in Deliveroo’s “Big Pitch” competition. He launched Rikuzame, a Brazilian jiu jitsu fightwear brand, and continues delivering food while building the business.
Careers coach Hannah Wickes advises workers to map out multiple career paths, including entrepreneurial options. Former recruiter Elizabeth Willetts says confidence in explaining transferable skills proves critical as traditional career paths fragment.
