For years, Britain told young people to “learn to code and you will be future proof.”

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We were already too late.

It sounded sensible. Tech was growing. Digital skills were in demand. Coding looked like a passport to security. But in 2026, that advice looks misguided because the entry-level tasks that once helped people build a career in coding are now exactly the kind of tasks AI is starting to absorb.

I recently overheard an 18-year-old say, “I wouldn’t do what my mum and dad did, because that’s not a viable career path anymore. I’ve got to find my own way.” It stopped me in my tracks. Not because it sounded dramatic, but because it sounded so wise from someone so young. Younger people know the old career ladders are wobbling. They know the labour market is shifting beneath their feet. But do they know where to turn?

At the same time, Britain has nearly 1 million 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training, and youth unemployment has risen to 16.1 per cent, its highest level in a decade. The government is now responding with a £1 billion package, including £3,000 subsidies for employers who hire unemployed young people.

The problem is not that learning to code has no value. It absolutely does. Learning to code still teaches logic, systems thinking and the fundamentals of how technology works.........

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