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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if there is actually a job for every unemployed person on Income Support/ JSA?

146 replies

CardyMow · 10/08/2011 10:51

Because I don't think there is, and surely if there isn't a job for everyone, then we need to ensure that everyone can eat, and live a decent life, even if they CAN'T get a job. I'm sure if you looked at the amount of jobs in Britain, and compared it to the total population of Britain, there would be a disparity between the two figures.

And I personally KNOW that there isn't enough unskilled jobs around now, for the people that CAN'T get any further qualifications.

OP posts:

altinkum · 10/08/2011 10:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyThumb · 10/08/2011 10:59

I don't know about 'further qualifications' - some people can barely string a sentence together, spell, use the english language and add up. I think there is a great need for basic learning, not 'further qualifications'.

And of course there aren't jobs for everyone - but it doesn't stop people from thinking "shall I bring a child into this world who has no chance", yeah what the fuck I'll just have another baby.

lubeybooby · 10/08/2011 10:59

No there isn't - there would be if everyone was highly skilled, or at least had IT skills and/or could drive, but that isn't the case and so many are stuck.

usualsuspect · 10/08/2011 11:02

over 200 people applied for a few jobs when a new Tesco opened near me

so no, there are not enough jobs ,even shelf stacking jobs that people on MN seem to think are so easy to get

TheRhubarb · 10/08/2011 11:06

I'm now self employed but before I got here my contract ended and I was looking for work for a year. I applied for jobs that I was qualified to do and had experience in and I didn't even get a job interview or a thank you letter.

Some job sites show you how many apply for each job and the average was 45 applications for every job advert.

My best friend also struggled to look for work for ages. Same story, applied for many jobs she knew she could do but didn't even get a thank you letter.

In the end I was forced to apply for Sainsbury's and cleaning jobs which I didn't get because I'd never done that work before. I hadn't experienced such difficulty in getting a job since the 1980s. It leads to feelings of despair, worthlessness and depression, esp when you resort to claiming benefits and have to prove how hard you've tried to find work. It just makes you feel like a huge failure.

AmberLeaf · 10/08/2011 11:08

No there isnt.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 10/08/2011 11:13

Nationally, there are jobs but, even if there was technically a job for everyone that wanted one, there would still be a mismatch in terms of geography, qualifications and appeal. The rural communities are still employing large numbers of people from overseas, for example, to pick fruit and vegetables because they can't get the right people locally. If a job requires someone to travel or relocate then that might put them off. We have shortages in certain areas such as mathematics and engineering because we don't have enough people with the right skills. And some jobs offering low pay are simply unattractive because of the way the benefit system works.

crazynanna · 10/08/2011 11:13

There was such a big queue at my local bakers for a vacancy last month,I joined the queue because I thought they were giving away free cakes

No,there are not enough jobs. And more people join the dole queue every day.

usualsuspect · 10/08/2011 11:20

I think one of the biggest problems is a lot of jobs are now done by agency workers ,so people have no job security. Zero hour contracts etc

BustySinclair · 10/08/2011 11:21

yes i think so

if you go to an agency, there is normally something that you can do.

usualsuspect · 10/08/2011 11:22

Really? ..A lot of agencies are not even taking people on where I live

HoneyPablo · 10/08/2011 11:29

Agencies tend to have temporary work. Not really the best way to pay a mortgage.
DS is 22 and spent 4 years training to be a bricklayer. As soon as he finished his apprenticeship, the company finished him. So he is fully trained but has no experience. He has been doing labouring work through different agencies but it is a bit hit and miss, a couple of days here, nothing for weeks, then another couple of days. Most of these are advertised through the jobcentre but they keep asking him why he is back to sign on again. He is in limbo-land. He can't make any plans to move out or buy a car because he has no prospects and doesn't know what money he will have coming in.
It might look like there are lots of jobs advertised but when you dig a bit deeper, the truth is somewhat different.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 10/08/2011 11:31

@HoneyPablo... would your DS consider moving abroad or to a different part of the country for work?

QueenOfFeckingEverything · 10/08/2011 11:35

" think one of the biggest problems is a lot of jobs are now done by agency workers ,so people have no job security. Zero hour contracts etc"

yep

a minimum wage job will hardly pay the rent and bills, and when it comes with no job security whatsoever is it any wonder people feel it is safer to stay on benefits?

you could end your claim, take the job, be out of work again within weeks, and then have to wait months for your benefits to be reinstated, leaving you at risk of losing your home and being unable to feed your family

CogitoErgoSometimes · 10/08/2011 11:38

That's not true of very young people getting started, though, is it QOFE? There is a stage in everyone's life where they're most likely still living with parents, not supporting a family, not paying mortgages etc. and then the security and payscale of the job isn't as crucial as for someone with those responsibilities.

HoneyPablo · 10/08/2011 11:38

cogito yes he has considered it. He would love to go to Australia, but he would like to save some money first.

OpinionatedPlusSprogs · 10/08/2011 11:49

YANBU

reallytired · 10/08/2011 12:02

A lot depends on how enterprising and flexible people are when it comes to finding work.

woollyideas · 10/08/2011 12:09

No, there definitely aren't enough jobs, and that makes things very handy for employers like mine who have record surpluses and reserves but put people on pay freezes and short term contracts just because we are all seen as easily replaceable. There are so many unhappy, overworked people where I work who are simply stuck. Of course, it's better than being unemployed, but it doesn't do much for morale/dignity.

LaWeasel · 10/08/2011 12:11

But then again, the ability to be flexible depends a lot on your circumstances. If you live with your parents for eg, you still might not be in a position to take on a zero hours contract if your family rely on you to make a financial contribution.

jade80 · 10/08/2011 12:21

No, there aren't. But then I imagine there are some people that would never get a job anyway because either they don't want it or they are unemployable becuse no employer would want to deal with their attitude/lateness etc. etc. So it's a moot point really.

The problem isn't that some people are on IS/JSA. The problem is those who have no intention of ever doing anything else, and inflict their lifestyle on their children, who in some cases can't avoid growing up just like their parents.

superjobee · 10/08/2011 12:31

my last job i was working was a new store opening in town, for 250 positions they had over 3000 applications! luckily i got a position but felt guilty as i didnt need to work rather wanted too instead.

niceguy2 · 10/08/2011 12:32

No statistically there's not enough jobs. But that does not excuse them from looking.

There will always be a level of unemployment. Even in the boom years we had a lot of people unemployed for various reasons.

But i hate hate HATE the excuse "There aren't enough jobs to go around" as a reason to fester on JSA for years. Well you still have to look, do more training/whatever to make yourself employable.

lesley33 · 10/08/2011 12:36

No there are not enough jobs. I have been shocked at the number of people applying for a minimum wage job where I work. And where I live agencies are no longer taking people on unless you have some very specialist skills.

Riveninside · 10/08/2011 12:50

Not enough jobs. My brother has qualifications coming out of his ears Nd is applying to everything after losing his job after 20 years of work. Even flipping burgers at MacDs. Nothing. He has gone to the US to look there. Still nothing.

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