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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Job Opportunities for the young UK

63 replies

Littlespace · 10/02/2019 16:17

I am worried about the UK economy and job opportunities due to the current political situation.

Are other people worried too? If so what could resolve matters?

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 16:36

Anybody? Many of us have children.

Isn't anyone worried?

OP posts:
ShadyLady53 · 10/02/2019 16:43

Well, in all honesty, we aren't going to know anything until after Brexit.

Certain jobs should be fine. Others will not. Some jobs won't even exist anymore whilst new jobs may be created. It's a time of economic uncertainty. The only certain thing is uncertainty and a period of at least a little instability.

Only time is going to resolve matters. It's not just the young that this will affect.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 16:45

Time may not resolve matters. Time may make things worse. Time may run out.

That is my worry. I'm concerned for the young.

OP posts:
Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 10/02/2019 16:52

Well what is your suggestion?

ShadyLady53 · 10/02/2019 17:00

We are going to take a hit initially. It could last 18 months or 18 years. The economy will eventually recover but we don't know how long that will take. It could happen quickly, it may not. Mark Carney is only predicting a 1 in 4 chance of recession, which I actually find reassuring. I graduated into the last recession and thought another was guaranteed.

The point is we don't know. All you can do re the young is encourage them to train for a career that will always be needed/in demand. I'm a relatively young university lecturer in an Arts subject thats heavily funded research wise from the EU. I don't have a permanent contract. I'm going to be starting to learn another "trade" on the side (either IT/Coding or Finance) just in case.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:16

My suggestion would definitely be to Revoke now that we know how damaging it is all going to be. But maybe the suggestion in this article is a good middle ground which would help preserve jobs.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/09/back-theresa-may-brexit-deal-then-hold-peoples-vote-backbencher-plan?fbclid=IwAR1p5fRojtV22E_YeoFtoZEEKuJn9KQDLWQXe37e7O7jiIYQvxsqTaoZqwE

Firms are relocating. Investment is drying up. The country is holding its breath. I just think we need to put the young first.

Does anyone agree or disagree? Or is everyone just hoping that it will all go away quietly.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 10/02/2019 17:18

Then this thread is just a stop brexit one. Just stick it in the Brexit topic.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:19

Why?

I'm very much concentrating on job opportunities for the young.

OP posts:
CameliaCamelia · 10/02/2019 17:24

Job opportunities for everyone

No point worrying just about the young!

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:27

Well yes. I agree.

For everyone else too, but usually recessions affect the young more dramatically as they are coming out into the labour force for the first time.

OP posts:
YahBasic · 10/02/2019 17:30

My advice to all young people is to train in a profession on the skills shortages list, and to always look at professional development.

The industry that my DH initially trained in is now fairly frowned upon. He pre-empted this and has moved into a different area of work.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:31

Do you have any good links for skills shortages lists?

OP posts:
YahBasic · 10/02/2019 17:33

here - the first result on Google, when you search for UK skills shortages list.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:35

Thank you. Very kind of you. I thought you were referring to something specific that your DH was involved in!

Is anyone concerned about massive wider job losses?

OP posts:
havingtochangeusernameagain · 10/02/2019 17:45

I think if your kids are very young it will be ok - they've got 10-15 years before they need to look for jobs, depending on age and whether they will go to uni.

If your kids are between say 14-22, it's not looking good. Those over 25 are hopefully already in work after uni and can hopefully keep their jobs even if they go part-time (in the 2008 recession some firms asked people to go part-time instead of making them redundant) but the younger ones will be coming out of uni and school and it is likely that the economy will be bad for a decade. I think my 16 year old ds will have to be a perpetual student for a while.

It will obviously affect older people too but hopefully a lot of people have paid down debts and mortgages to put themselves in the best positions they can be in. But of course there are a lot of people who don't have that luxury.

Lets hope a few MPs lose their jobs and get a taste of what they have wreaked on the country. But they won't.

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 17:45

If your kids are between say 14-22, it's not looking good.

Mine are all this age. Sad

OP posts:
ShadyLady53 · 10/02/2019 18:02

I hate this company with a passion (I’m a Pacifist) but I know a girl who left school over the summer after GCSE’s and went straight into an apprenticeship with BAE and now has a full time job with them paying well for someone who isn’t even 17.

Something like that would be a good bet.

To be perfectly frank though, I graduated in the recession as I’ve already said and no one gave a damn about us young people then and we survived. I was on JSA for 10 months before I set up my own business, I applied to 55 jobs at one point and only got two interviews. I was a straight A student and graduated top of my course and I’d been working in a demanding job since I left sixth form. I survived.

I’m more worried about young families and people currently with dependents. What happens if they lose jobs?

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 18:06

I am worrying about everyone. It is like watching a car crash in slow motion. I think we should give a damn about the young people and families.

I really do appreciate the job tips.

OP posts:
SweetAndSourPrawnBalls · 10/02/2019 18:09

Yanbu Sad

AliyyaJann · 10/02/2019 18:09

If we benefit then wouldn't there be less competition from EU nationals?

Correct me if I'm wrong

ShadyLady53 · 10/02/2019 18:10

Just remembered - Radiography! Everyone I know has recently been sent home from hospital or spent 3 hours waiting due to a shortage of radiographers.

Nursing is a good bet at the moment too.

Think of what we’ll always need.

AliyyaJann · 10/02/2019 18:11

If we BREXIT...

Original poster
Littlespace · 10/02/2019 18:13

I am so hoping that the nation comes to its senses and we don't!

However in the meantime I am trying to get my children to think outside the box. Of course outside the box may be outside the UK.

OP posts:
ShadyLady53 · 10/02/2019 18:13

Yes, there are certain jobs, usually badly paid, that we already can’t fill due to EU nationals having left or not coming due to Brexit fears. Think fruit and veg pickers and other agricultural roles, healthcare jobs, cleaning, factory work. All jobs young people in this country used to do many decades ago before university was as popular.

user139328237 · 10/02/2019 18:18

Well its clearly not possible that brexit will lead to both mass unemployment and a shortage of labour as many remain supporters seem to be arguing. Equally the worldwide economy is currently facing another cyclical downturn so recession would be likely with or without brexit in the current months.
The only young people whose job prospects may be poor are those who are unwilling to work in unskilled positions at any point and think a degree alone is enough to obtain a professional position.