Young people are being denied full-time permanent jobs because they’re stuck on exploitative zero-hours contracts by employment agencies, TUC research warned yesterday.

A whopping 81 per cent of temporary agency workers aged 20-24, and 64 per cent aged 25-29, say they are in temporary work because they cannot find a permanent job.

And the union organisation’s study found that half of zero-hours contract workers aged 20–24 and 58 per cent of those aged 25–29 say the same.

Employers claim that agency working and zero-hours contracts offer young workers valuable job experience and a stepping stone into more permanent employment.

But the research suggested that younger workers are increasingly trapped in insecure work, when they would prefer permanent employment which is more likely to provide access to training and workplace benefits, pensions and holiday entitlement.

Workers under 30 represent 25 per cent of the workforce but account for 44 per cent of workers employed in temporary work and 37 per cent of all agency workers.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The UK’s young people are increasingly bearing the brunt of the wages crisis.

“Younger workers are being pushed into zero-hours and temporary jobs from which they have little hope of escaping.

“The government can no longer afford to ignore the plight of young people, who are struggling to cope with poverty pay, poor prospects and the increased cost of housing and food.”