The first couple of months of 2026 has brought a continued rise in member numbers, with ten new joiners this last week alone. Alongside our long standing demographic, we are now welcoming more people in their mid 20s to mid 40s who are managing a wide range of pressures as they try to move forward. These pressures are often unseen, yet they shape every aspect of a person’s job search and their ability to engage with support.

Recent national reporting has highlighted rising unemployment and increased pressure on both early‑career and later‑career job seekers. The experiences we are seeing locally reflect this wider picture.

Across the club, many members are dealing with prolonged unemployment, caring responsibilities, financial pressure and, in several cases, housing insecurity as landlords sell their properties. Confidence has taken a knock for all. The mix of isolation, social stigma and the constant worry about keeping going and keeping a roof over their heads has a real impact on people’s mental health. Several members have described feeling worn down by the strain of trying to stay positive while their circumstances remain uncertain.

We are also seeing more members in highly precarious work. One recent example is a 25 year old graduate on a zero hours contract who has not been offered any shifts, or any pay, since November. Situations like this leave people technically employed but without income, stability or access to the support they need. It is a growing issue nationally and one that is increasingly visible across our membership.

Others are returning to work after redundancy or a career break and are finding the pace of change in hiring practices difficult to navigate. Many have been out of work for nine months or more and are understandably concerned about the impact this has on their prospects. The recruitment processes they now face often add to this pressure. Multi stage interviews, unpaid tasks and unclear expectations make it harder for people to regain their footing, especially when confidence is already low. What should be a straightforward route back into work has become a demanding and, at times, discouraging experience.

Recruitment processes are adding further pressure
Alongside these wider challenges, members are increasingly describing recruitment processes that feel disproportionate and draining. While this is only one part of the picture, it has become a consistent theme across the last nine months.
Members report:

• several interview rounds with multiple people
• unpaid tasks or multi‑hour exercises before meeting anyone
• unclear processes with no indication of how many stages to expect
• long periods of silence or no feedback at all

For people already managing financial strain or caring responsibilities, these experiences carry a real cost. The time investment is significant, the emotional impact builds over time and the lack of transparency leaves people feeling discouraged and undervalued. For many, the uncertainty and lack of clarity add to existing anxiety and make it harder to maintain confidence during a long job search.

This reflects a wider shift in the labour market where the burden of inefficient hiring is increasingly placed on candidates. For our members, it adds another layer of pressure at a time when resilience is already stretched.

The breadth of challenges members are managing
The themes emerging across Q1 reflect the complexity of modern job seeking. Members are telling us they need support with:

• managing stress and anxiety
• building confidence and self‑belief
• speaking in public and feeling comfortable in social settings
• re‑establishing a clear and positive mindset
• strengthening personal resilience and navigating adversity
• organisation and productivity
• finding calm and maintaining momentum

These needs sit alongside the practical realities of caring duties, financial strain, housing uncertainty and the emotional pressure of keeping going when progress feels slow.

A recent trial of a short ‘self‑belief’  resource was well received, and members asked for further support with stress, confidence, mindset, resilience and social interaction. This reinforces the themes we are continuing to see and highlights the value of simple, repeatable tools.

How the club is meeting these needs
We prioritise sessions that help people rebuild confidence, reduce isolation and regain a sense of control. Many members arrive carrying real mental‑health pressures linked to long periods out of work, financial strain and the uncertainty of what comes next. Being in the room with others who understand their situation helps to ease some of that weight. It gives people space to pause, reflect and feel less alone in what can be a very isolating experience.

Alongside this, we are developing shorter online resources for topics that work well in a simple, self‑guided format. These are not a replacement for in‑person sessions. They are an extra way for members to access steady, repeatable tools that help them manage stress, maintain momentum and stay connected to their goals.

Our aim is straightforward. We want every member to leave each session with something they can use immediately, whether that is a practical technique, a clearer mindset or the reassurance that they are not facing these challenges on their own.

Why this matters
These first months of 2026 have highlighted, once again, that the challenges people face when seeking work extend far beyond CVs and interviews. The pressures are practical, emotional and often deeply personal. By sharing these insights, we aim to support a clearer understanding of the realities behind the job search and contribute to a more informed conversation among partners, employers and policy makers.

M3 Job Club remains a place where people can rebuild confidence, learn practical skills and connect with others who understand what they are going through. The more clearly we can communicate these realities, the better placed we are to influence positive change and ensure that support reaches those who need it most.