Young people in the UK have it tough

Such a perfect description. Couldn’t agree more. I don’t know what the answer is, apart from people rising up to start a revolution. That will never happen though due to the divide and conquer politics of left and right.

Yes and no. I don’t think they have it as tough as Millennials who graduated into the aftermath of the 2008 crash. Unemployment is still comparatively low.

Gen Z just moan a lot more. Probably do social media and greater awareness of others going through the same.

A large part of the problem in my view is that we don't have a shared national vision of what we want the UK to be.

A lot of people (including on here) just want a comfortable supported life with lots of aid from the state both directly and through services like the NHS. Who can blame them, we see how enviable that life is through the number of immigrants who want to take advantage.

A few, a very few it sometimes seems, see that we need to re-invent ourselves, to compete and win in the world. What does this mean practically?

Better education so more talented people, less regulation (so businesses can grow more easily), lower taxes so workers and entrepreneurd can keep more of what they earn, a small public sector (because govt is so inefficient in spending your money), free trade, taking advantage of our fortunate geography and that we speak the world's language.

But until the people (and here it is tempting to say sheeple) realise that the current trajectory is slow decline where our kids can't get decent jobs, nothing will change.

The UK needs dynamism. Instead it has Andy Burnham and Kier Starmer!

The anger re how badly our young people have been let down in so many areas is widespread and growing.

makes many parents incredibly angry

Some parents like you clearly.

The Government are planning a youth mobility scheme with the EU - presumably your kids will be applying?

A working holiday is just that. Young people had it so much better when we were in Europe and now things are even tougher having the EU and all its opportunities barred from our young people makes many parents incredibly angry.

It would be far better for young people if they had the options they had before of easily working closer in Europe

Not if considerably more young people come to the UK in competition for jobs.

How many new graduates from the UK obtained graduate level jobs in the EU, excluding Ireland, pre-Brexit? Why do graduates and young people from Ireland prefer English speaking destinations?

New Zealand and Australia are massive distances away

Nevertheless, nearly 80,000 young British nationals took up the offer of a working holiday visa to Australia in 2024. Also, we hear that newly qualified doctors are also heading to Australia.

It’s odd how this narrative has taken root. A Labour Councillor canvassing before the local elections told me the same thing. She wouldn’t have it that it was Labour and that I was absolutely sure as I was the last year not to pay tuition fees and stayed up to watch the debate as I was so annoyed about the decision!

It is hugely difficult to get jobs in Silicon Valley. Non-U.S. citizens cannot simply apply for a work visa; an American employer must sponsor them. This process is time-consuming, expensive, and risky for employers. With abundant local talent available, companies are often hesitant to take on the extra legal faff.

The most common visa for tech workers, the H-1B Visa, is capped and requires individuals to be selected through a highly competitive random lottery. Because the odds are low, many companies prefer alternative routes.

It would be far better for young people if they had the options they had before of easily working closer in Europe. New Zealand and Australia are massive distances away.

Are you asleep

No, I was awake at 7.38 am this morning - I'm usually awake by 6.30 am.

you people from the uk

Which people are you? French?

Do you know how hard it is for anybody to get a visa to work there?

Fairly difficult, although Silicon Valley was mentioned on LBC last night as a popular destination for UK tech graduates.

In any case, I listed Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada first.

As an aside, I recall that Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Yvette Cooper, Rishi Sunak and Ed Milliband all worked in the United States for several years in their early twenties to early thirties.

Nope, they merely increased them, with the top-up fees. I know because my year (1998) was the first to pay tuition fees, with the promise “a degree with guarantee you a good job”.

It was david camerpn and yhe coalition that introduced tuition fees.

The worst thing was the hyper-expansion and commercialisation of the universities. And the deluded notion that 50% of school leavers should have degrees. At best, 12-15% of the population are suited to tertiary study and it is worth making the filters ruthlessly selective and subsidising the successful candidates. IMO, of course.

I agree.

There are EU initiatives to help young people into work that our young people are now shut out of too.

The Tories and Reform do not care about our young people and will never do anything to help them. It’s tragic the way we older generations have let them down via Brexit and in many other ways.

@FrenchT0ast Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation.

EU citizens and residents have strict precedence over non-EU/EEA nationals for jobs in the European Union. The legal and practical frameworks ensure priority in hiring.

I see the young graduates coming through our work graduate scheme and think that if I were just leaving uni now, i'd never get a job. They are all outstanding young people. There are very few places and so many applicants so you really need to be the top of the crop.

Are you asleep. The USA does not want immigrants.Hate to break it to you but you people from the uk wanting to work in the us are immigrants the same as everybody else. 😆At the idea that young people can just trot over to the us to work. Do you know how hard it is for anybody to get a visa to work there?

@Newname26 OK, I see. That has always been an issue though and has nothing to do with Brexit. (The poster I was quoting was arguing about Brexit.)

Language?
If your a German, French or Italian employer whats going to make you want to take a UK graduate who struggles to communicate in the countries language verses a local graduate?

That's the issue a toe in the door isn't really pushing the door open.
Teachers only able to get a couple of days a week teaching - using the pub to supplement that.
I know someone else with one day a week in a semi-relavant job - and the pub.

Along with others who are struggling to get relevant jobs, degrees in engineering that you wouldn't have thought would have struggled

These young people all graduated who've been graduated 2/3 years ago still not able to get a full-time graduate level job.

It might be easier in parts of England but not in Scotland

People keep saying this but I don't understand. Why wouldn't they be able to get a visa for an EU country?

Yes it's tougher now to get a job due to so much competition, young people having more qualifications. As graduates we would take any job going and volunteer to places to get a foot in the door, it wasn't easy easy, we had to be pro active.

Tough in the sense of their just isn't enough decent jobs.
When you hear of teachers only being able to get a couple of days supply work and supplementing with pub work.

I even know people with Engineering degrees and not a proper job 2/3 years after graduating.

Actually I only know one young person who's graduated post covid and got a proper job.

That stuff holds people back its not about having a big telly, it not getting secure work to get a mortgage to get a house.

No proper job, no mortgage, not being able to move forward and get married or have kids.