When the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, 16 and 17-year-olds were among the most affected, yet they had no choice or say at the ballot box. And that decision continues to shape their futures today from education to work and even identity.
A generation living with the consequences
Speaking to me, Craig from Ascot shared “It was difficult at the time of the referendum knowing the future of this country was being decided whilst not being able to have a say.”
“Brexit has been the backdrop to my teenage years – I’ve never known anything else. While my friends with older siblings tell stories about easy university exchanges and travel in Europe or jobs abroad, those feel like fairy tales to me” – Milly, 17, from North Yorkshire
Meanwhile, Iona, a graduate from Scotland said: “So many people in Scotland have been badly affected by the cost of living crisis and social divisions over immigration. Its hard to look at these problems and not think: would the negative impact have been lessened if the Brexit vote had gone differently?”
Freya, a Scottish student at Exeter University, is of a similar opinion that, “British students being able to participate in the Erasmus student exchange programme is a positive step in mitigating the more negative effects for younger generations post-Brexit. It allows for an accessible pathway for young Brits to experience the continent, an opportunity that should never have been removed in the first place.”
In the 2016 EU referendum, official results show that 62% of Scottish voters chose to remain in the European Union, the highest proportion of any UK nation and among young people, support for EU membership was even greater, yet Brexit still went ahead.
As explained by young people, Brexit has brought nothing but barriers to travel, education and work. Opportunities that older generations often took for granted, from Erasmus exchanges to summer jobs in Europe, are now more difficult, more expensive or simply out of reach. For young Scots who want to stay connected to Europe, it feels like a door has been closed.
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The cost of Brexit for Britain’s young people
The economic fallout of Brexit is no longer up for debate. Growth has slowed and many industries are struggling to fill vital roles. As an example, the UK’s construction sector has contracted for eight consecutive months as of September 2025, marking its longest downturn since 2020. Additionally, a Bank of England survey revealed that businesses have cut jobs at the fastest pace since 2021, reducing employment by 0.5% annually over the three months to August 2025.
The economy isn’t the only casualty of Brexit. For young people, the impact is deeply personal as people hoping to study abroad now face higher international fees. By 2035, slower growth could mean nearly three million fewer UK jobs, 500,000 of them in London. This means fewer openings and lower wages. Even apprentices who once gained experience in EU industries such as automotive manufacturing in Germany, hospitality and tourism in Spain, renewable energy projects in Denmark and so on, now find doors closed.
As shown in the Scottish Government’s seasonal migrant workers report, the ripple effects are visible in Scotland too. The NHS struggles to fill gaps left by doctors and nurses who once came freely from Europe. Farms in Aberdeenshire report difficulty hiring seasonal workers, while around 21% of Scottish businesses with more than 10 employees, report staffing shortages.
For many young Scots, the promise that Brexit would create new opportunities feels shallow. Instead, they are left wondering if their generation will have fewer opportunities than those before them.
This raises bigger questions about the future. What do young Scots want beyond Brexit? Some see independence as the route back into Europe. Others want to focus on reforming Britain as a whole. What is clear is that young people do not want to be left out of the conversation again.
Across Scotland, youth organisations, student groups and campaigners are pushing to make their voices heard during discussions about the country’s future. They are asking difficult questions: What kind of society do we want? How do we build a future with opportunity and fairness? And crucially, how do we make sure young people are at the heart of shaping their future?
My perspective
As a young person living in the post-Brexit era, I couldn’t sit by and watch my rights, alongside those of millions of other young people, being taken from me without doing anything about it. That’s why I got involved in the Young European Movement (YEM). As YEM’s elected Head of Diversity and Inclusion, I work with young people, from Shetland to Glasgow, who share a belief in unity and connection over division. We create spaces for discussion, campaign for youth mobility and opportunities for young people, and show that the voice of the youth matters in shaping our future.
The future must be about rebuilding connections not only with Europe but also with each other. We want to have the freedom to learn and work without facing unnecessary obstacles in our lives as Brexit has taken so many of those opportunities away, but it has also given our generation a determination to imagine and demand something better.
The recent news that British students will be allowed to participate in the EU-wide scheme (Erasmus) without incurring the burden of tuition fees is welcome and a good step forward to undo the terrible mistake of Brexit.
Looking ahead
Scotland stands at a crossroads. The question is not only about independence or Britain’s relationship with the EU, but about what kind of future young Scots want to build. If we listen to young people today, the message is clear: they want a Scotland that is open, outward-looking and ambitious, a Scotland connected to the world, not cut off from it.
Brexit was a choice made without us. The future must not be.
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