Are you concerned about youth unemployment figures?

[Trento]

“The latest figures show youth unemployment remains largely unchanged with the total number of young people out of work rising to 957,000. Similarly, the youth unemployment rate has stuck at 20.5%.

“Stubborn long-term youth unemployment shows no signs of easing with 265,000 16-24 year olds having been jobless for more than one year, and 431,000 out-of-work for over six months.”

“This is undoubtedly one of the biggest problems of our time. The effects are sorely felt by nearly one million individuals and their families, and ripple through communities, society and the economy today and for years to come.

“Voters say that youth unemployment is the third most important issue facing the country, and 80% think that the Government’s policy is not working.

“All political parties need to step up the plate and take big, bold action to combat youth unemployment. They must look at the most effective ways to help more businesses – particularly small and medium enterprises –take on more young people.”

Quotes taken from - http://www.millionjobs.org.uk


Do you think these stats are a case of a lack of work ethic, jobs or experience?

 

[quickshot89]

Its because people expect to be a decent wage when they have average results as soon as they leave school, college or uni, or that a lot of jobs are beneath them

 

[Name]

Yep exactly what quickshot said. Once spending 3 years gaining a degree i did not expect my qualifications to be ignored and only be offered minimuim wage for any job i applied for.

you need to start somewhere, a qualification does NOT guarentee you a job, you need 2-3 years basic work exp to back it up.

 

[4T5]

I'm more concerned how the Government fiddle the Unemployment figures to make it look like people are getting into work when really they are just put on some expensive 3 - 6 month training program.
There back to work program isn't working as proved on that Documentary on BBC1 tuther night.

 

[aln]

In a recession even the companies doing well will generally use it as an excuse to push wages down. Since the only thing kids have going for them is they're cheap, if people with experience are also cheap, kids won't get a look in.

 

[Robosapien]

We must promote economic activity. If no one works, how are we ever going to get new stuff and help each other? Not worried in the slightest.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Anyone got a breakdown of what this group of long time unemployed is made up of?

Is it mostly the stereotypical 'jobless scrounger', graduates or school leavers?

I ask as most of the people I know in that age group are graduates and although it's difficult, very few of them are out of work.

 

[Nexus]

Its because people expect to be a decent wage when they have average results as soon as they leave school, college or uni, or that a lot of jobs are beneath them

I don't think its just about that though, I can see that you are heading towards the benefits issues of people not wanting to work because its better on welfare.

However, there is a problem for those who want to work that isn't about money. I've been in plenty of shops and restaurants where I've seen young people come in looking for a Saturday job, yet places just aren't hiring anymore because they are all facing the pinch. Thats an issue because many young people can't get weekend work or even get on the job ladder, so to speak.

 

[aln]

We must promote economic activity. If no one works, how are we ever going to get new stuff and help each other? Not worried in the slightest.

We can't really do anything about it.

If a company was making a billion a year but during hard times only making £500m, the greedy will still attempt to cut costs to protect the profits of those at the top. This means firing staff, weakening our economy further, causing less profits, creating a cycle. In all under the pretence of protecting the profits of those who are extremely rich already.

It's what American capitalism has became, destroying future productivity to ensure short term, quarterly based gain. Any system that has the gap between the rich and poor growing is doomed to failure in the end.

Anyone got a breakdown of what this group of long time unemployed is made up of?

Is it mostly the stereotypical 'jobless scrounger', graduates or school leavers?

I ask as most of the people I know in that age group are graduates and although it's difficult, very few of them are out of work.

You're looking at it the wrong way, I think. I graduated in like 2007 or something. My first job was a 1st line support role, which basically required a degree in order to be a glorified receptionist.

People with an education will be prefered to those who don't have one in jobs that don't need them, meaning the people who should typically have those jobs are left out in the cold.

Lots of people will suffer having lower wages or doing a crappier job but when it comes to people who are just forced to go without, it'll likely always be those at the lower ends of the scale that suffer (lack of exp/education).

 

[mmj_uk]

I'm more concerned how the Government fiddle the Unemployment figures to make it look like people are getting into work when really they are just put on some expensive 3 - 6 month training program.
There back to work program isn't working as proved on that Documentary on BBC1 tuther night.

What programme was this?

 

[Trento]

Wouldn't be surprised they are fiddling them to be honest, the scheme needs reshaping.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

You're looking at it the wrong way, I think. I graduated in like 2007 or something. My first job was a 1st line support role, which basically required a degree in order to be a glorified receptionist.

People with an education will be prefered to those who don't have one in jobs that don't need them, meaning the people who should typically have those jobs are left out in the cold.

Lots of people will suffer having lower wages or doing a crappier job but when it comes to people who are just forced to go without, it'll likely always be those at the lower ends of the scale that suffer (lack of exp/education).

You make a good point there. Are all the jobs being soaked up by the 'overqualified', without meaning to sound elitist.

 

[G J]

Its because people expect to be a decent wage when they have average results as soon as they leave school, college or uni, or that a lot of jobs are beneath them

Really? I think it has more to do with you won't get anywhere unless you have a degree but the kicker is everyone wants years+ experience to go with it. Can't get the expeince without having the job vicious circle/herp derp

I have a HNC in Computing it's not that the jobs are beneath me I've been trying for years to get onto the ladder and the jobs I do apply for, there are no IT jobs beneath them to apply for and they still want degree's/certs/years exp and these arn't 50klololol a year jobs they bottom line minimum wage.

Also over the year's the amount of people I've heard that have gone on apprenticeships / work scheme's and it all fails within six months is staggering.

 

[Glaucus]

IMO work ethics, which is getting worse. Not just the young.
You are only as good as the job you can get. If you can't get a good one, get a rubbish one. IMO no reason to be out of work, you are either don't put any effort in, or are setting their sights far to high up the ladder.

If all you can get is carting meat about in a slaughter house, then that's what you should do.

Dons flame suit, but even if I get made jobless, I can almost guarantee I would be in work within weeks. You just have to go get it and look at anything.
Just as you have an education, doesn't mean any job is below you. Better to be in a crap job and searching than jobless. And I've had some crap jobs. There's also a lack of willing to travel. Oh I can't do taht job it's 3,5,10 miles away. So walk, cycle get a £200 moped. Hopefully with caps and other beneift changes, might spur some people on to actually get a job.

 

[=XDC=FluphyBunny]

You make a good point there. Are all the jobs being soaked up by the 'overqualified', without meaning to sound elitist.

Its been (more than) a few years now but I found the opposite of that, attending job interviews and been told I was overqualified for the job.

 

[Glaucus]

Its been (more than) a few years now but I found the opposite of that, attending job interviews and been told I was overqualified for the job.

Then restructure your cv/interview. You don't have to include everything on it.

 

[aln]

IMO work ethics, which is getting worse. Not just the young.
You are only as good as the job you can get. If you can't get a good one, get a rubbish one. IMO no reason to be out of work, you are either don't put any effort in, or are setting their sights far to high up the ladder.

If all you can get is carting meat about in a slaughter house, then that's what you should do.

Dons flame suit, but even if I get made jobless, I can almost guarantee I would be in work within weeks. You just have to go get it and look at anything.
Just as you have an education, doesn't mean any job is below you. Better to be in a crap job and searching than jobless. And I've had some crap jobs. There's also a lack of willing to travel. Oh I can't do taht job it's 3,5,10 miles away. So walk, cycle get a £200 moped. Hopefully with caps and other beneift changes, might spur some people on to actually get a job.

You have a point but it's fairly superficial. I doubt I'll ever be short of a job either but you also need to recognise that when there is less jobs than workers then even the crap jobs are hard to get based purely on the numbers applying for them.

If I was out of work and seriously needing money I'd be willing to work a bit harder, longer and for cheaper than the next guy. I'd be willing to do crap jobs if need be. If everyone did that we'd be in a constant cycle of working longer hours for less wages, it's essentially a race to the bottom.

The opposite is true if you live in an industry with less staff than job openings. Companies, theoretically, should be fighting over a finite numbers of potential staff and thus the best should offered better and better remuneration as these companies try to hire the best people.

However, which group you fit into is likely based on decisions you made when you were still a kid, who your parents are, where your grew up, or dumb luck as much as it has to do with your desire or will in your adult life.

Lazy scroungers are definitely a problem as are people, in my opinion, that wrongly get themselves classified as unfit to work. I don't have absoulte sympathy for those who haven't tried to achieve in their lives and are stuck fighting over the lower rung jobs either. But it's no where near as simple as anyone who wants a job can get one.

That doesn't mean we can't actually tackle the problem but we're unlikely to ever get anywhere with people constantly taking polar opposite views and constantly swinging between those in our elected representatives.

 

[Biohazard]

I'm a Tory and only see poverty through my windscreen, I couldn't care less if they all became cripples in workhouses. Forcing me to do or pay to help is a state monopoly of force driven upon me by thick unwashed people.

 

[aln]

I'm a Tory and only see poverty through my windscreen, I couldn't care less if they all became cripples in workhouses. Forcing me to do or pay to help is a state monopoly of force driven upon me by thick unwashed people.

Good point Bio. Really won the debate there!

 

[Biohazard]

Good point Bio. Really won the debate there!

It's a jibe aln, it's not a serious injection into the debate had you noticed. Free will and expression and all that.