To think society would be better if you could join the workforce sooner

[Welllllll]

And the age of compulsory education was lowered I’m not sure exactly what age to but 18 seems quite and as a result it is then years longer before you can move out and gain independence that generations ago you gained much earlier high Aibu to think it would be better if it was more practical for people to be able to get a job and as a result move out/ become adults than what they already are with the system of for most young people adolescence seems to drag on into the early 20s due to the delay in leaving school/university and getting on the property ladder?

Education past 16 isn’t for everyone. I think more 16 year olds should be in work, not getting into debt by going to uni.

My son is 15 with SEN. He absolutely detests school and this opinion was formed at an early age when his primary school refused to accept that he was SEN and put him through years of hell. This opinion will not change now, his last headteacher has acknowledged this and actually permanently excluded him for his own benefit because he just cannot cope with school. He wants to become a mechanic and would happily do a work based apprenticeship, however the LEA will not allow this until he is at least 16. So he is just spending his time at home with two hours of private tutoring ( funded by the LEA) in English and Maths per week, when he could be doing something productive and earning himself a wage!

Absolutely not. What kind of capitalist bullshit are you peddling?

I think it's great younger people are enjoying their life for longer, taking more time to settle and have children.

Even at 40 you have up to 30 years left in the workforce. That's plenty!

Lodging, house/flat sharing totally normal for young adults for many generations.

My niece has recently moved into a house share (admittedly in London) its £700/month + bills for 1 room (no communal living space)
A work colleague rents a room for £1000/month!!
Both are early 20s, I cant imagine how they manage to save to even rent their own place.

In answer to the original question, I think the way things are with employment has changed the requirement for young (cheap) staff. My first job was weekend job in a department store.
I did a yts scheme during the week and worked saturdays and sundays in the shop. The managers and senior staff all had sundays off, and we got paid time and a half. Now anyone in retail would be required to work sundays as normal day, the same number of people would be rota'd to cover 7 days instead of 6. Menial or easier tasks that would have once been given to a teenager on a saturday will probably be now everyones responsibility for no extra pay, so saves the expense, admin etc of having an "extra" saturday junior.

My DSD16 has just skipped off to work, taking her 10yo sister to school on the way - I even got a hug goodbye and a cup of tea made for me before she went!

She starts her apprenticeship in July, but has been working part time at this company for a year - and is doing amazingly. She was a bloody nightmare at school, but now she's at work, she's a totally changed person - she's loving every second and it's a total joy to see. I had three phone calls yesterday (on breaks!) updating me on her new desk location, exhibitions she's going to, her new email signature!

The apprenticeship qualification is a bonus, but honestly even if that wasn't on the table she's found something she's passionate about and seeing her happy is surely all you can ask as a parent?

Some people just don't suit the education system, she's blossomed at work and I'm so bloody proud of her. If she'd been facing another two years at school, I'm not sure she, us or her poor teachers would have managed it!

YABVU for all the many good reasons already stated. It would make unemployment go up. It would also be detrimental to social mobility - what about academically able students from poor backgrounds who could do really well going to university, but who might have parents who don't support that because they're keen to get them out earning money asap?

And I think OP has a point - a young person who has been working and saving since 16 is by their mid 20s in a much better position than someone who only began to work full time at 21/22.

But assuming the 21/22 year old went to university the chances are they will earn more over their lifetime ( not everyone obviously but that's what the data tells us)
Also, society as a whole benefits from having a more educated population.

I do think, however, there should be more technical/vocational options at 16 as academic study isn't for everyone. The government have been pushing for this but they aren't quite there yet.

It would make unemployment go up. It would also be detrimental to social mobility - what about academically able students from poor backgrounds who could do really well going to university, but who might have parents who don't support that because they're keen to get them out earning money asap?

Excellent point

No, going back to the good old days of children working is not a good thing. Apprenticeship or education is the correct approach in my opinion.

Given we're prob all going to be working till we're 70+, I don't get the keenness to start so early. I agree there should be more options for training though.

@DinosaurDiana

Education past 16 isn’t for everyone. I think more 16 year olds should be in work, not getting into debt by going to uni.

Not every school leaver does go to uni. Only 50% go into higher education (at 18)

Trying to ensure that young people have qualifications is a good thing and infinitely better that leaving school at 16 with just a handful of GCSEs.

The job prospects for a 16 year old leaving school are pretty grim though. Retail, factory work? Not much progression.
An apprenticeship pays shit but gives a qualification that means there is better chance of progression and working their way up.

@Chikapu

Jesus, yes let's throw everyone into the rat race at an even earlier age!

Well chucking them out there in their mid 20's, poorly equipped to deal with life as an adult doesn't seem to be helping anyone, does it. Look at the sheer number of mental health issues nowadays.

The lack of responsibility doesn't seem to be a good thing.

I have a 19 year old and 16 year old. My eldest left school at 17 and did an engineering access course at college, then an nc, and now doing an apprenticeship with his HNC over 2 years then another 2 years and he’s quite happy. However to get to his place of work for the time you need to be there he needed to have a car, couldn’t get credit for anything because of his age, despite him working and bringing home almost more than me. My 16 year old has no idea what he wants to do, he’s doing plenty subjects at school but no clue what to do. So he’d be really stuck. I would like him to get his maths this year, he really struggled being out of the classroom last year so hopefully he can get it this year and do higher next year if he wants.

I don’t think either older sons will go to uni and I’m glad schools are linking more with colleges to provide an experience where kids can do other courses alongside their school work, much more choice than when I was at school and it was all academic and pushing for uni. Hard for those who couldn’t go or didn’t want to.

I did A-levels, but when I was 16 and one month, I started working three evenings a week in Tesco on the checkout. I quickly swapped that for Saturdays, plus the occasional overtime.

I stayed in education, and then went into a profession, but I learnt loads from my experience in Tesco on Saturdays (and more like full time over holiday periods) - dealing with customers, flexibility, conversation, hierarchy, relationships at every level. It has helped me in every job I've done since, and I'm now 45.

So I am all for entering the workforce early, in addition to apprenticeships, education etc. But jobs like this are really competitive these days.

you can't rent accommodation at 16, as you cannot legally sign a contract until you are 18.

Minimum wage for 16 year olds is about £4.60, where I live a room in a house share is minimum £700 a month. They would have about £30 a month to get to work & feed themselves - I think I’d rather stay at school

So, delay pensions until 70. Let younger people into the workplace.

I don’t think there are enough jobs for this many people.

And if you look at history little kids were working from really early ages.

I think it’s the sign of an advanced society that people are in some form of education until 18.