Young people in the UK have it tough

[JiIttiIg]

All the news stories are about young people not getting jobs and having to stay with their parents. It used to be they had to stay at home to save for a house, now it's no house and no jobs. Can't see things getting any better in the near future. Is the UK now a country that is failing it's young people. Is it going to be like countries from Eastern or Southern Europe where young people had to outmigrate in order to get a decent life? Can't see any politicians having the right answers.

It is really worrying, and it isn't just young people. I'm mid thirties and I was made redundant last year and still haven't found a job - I am applying for anything and everything locally. Nadda. I might have to move back in with my parents, but at least I'm lucky enough to have that option!

I'd say yes, emigrate.

Emigrate to where though? I do think they have it tougher than they used to (in terms of work at least). But where would you go?

I live in Asia, and many countries around me also have big problems with youth unemployment, plenty more so than the UK. As you mention large parts of Europe have struggled with this more than the UK.

They could go to a country where they will have an "expat" advantage over local young people in certain fields... but those chop and change and aren't always sustainable..

Canada? America? New Zealand? Australia?

Canada is certainly possible, but it has its own issues for young people, including a big housing crisis... America has so many advantages but visas are very hard for young people, and there are just as many risks that go with those advantages.

NZ and Aus do seem to have better youth unemployment and general affordability... but they are a long way for many families to be split over.

I'm all for people moving around the world - as I did it. But I do find that some people in the UK say it so simply as a solution to any problem facing young people, without really considering that there are not actually that many options that present better completely situations.

Yes, this country’s decline is accelerating and within a few years, it won’t even be classed as a rich country but barely a middle income one. There is nothing left here for he young except for high taxes to pay benefits for the lazy.

It's a difficult period, definitely.

The best thing you can do is encourage them to engage with their community in some way - making things better even in small ways helps people feel more hopeful.

Then encourage them to invest energy in their own education of course.

Tough in comparison to what other counties? Somalia? Sudan?

Its very, very worrying, im a millennial and i can only see that things have worsened for those following. It used to be worry about getting on the housing ladder, now its about getting a job at all :(

There's all this angst over falling birth rates but if people can't find jobs and can't afford to move out and start lives of their own then no wonder they don't feel able to have children.

This is what happens when you have millions on benefits that everyone else has to pay for.

As Mcfadden said, all Labour want to do is tax anyone and anything.

If our government is anti growth what do you expect?

Give Labour enough time and we'll get there soon enough.

This is the what happens when you asset strip a rich county. Selling off our utilities to foreign competitors. We have nothing left to generate wealth.

I really feel for young people. University guarantees nothing except a huge debt. Jobs are hard to get and when you do get them the salaries don’t cover enough to pay extortionate rents, let alone to save towards your own place. Housing is eye wateringly expensive and the only hope you have is reasonably wealthy parents who can chip in to help you.
my DC are tweens/young teens but if there is no sign of improvement I will be encouraging them to seek opportunities in other countries. They have EU passports so at least some hope of a better life than what looks likely here.

Yes that shouldn't have happened but it's done and can't be changed. But that doesn't mean that you make things worse by encouraging all the wealthy people to emigrate.

But Labour hates rich people so what do you expect.

It’s really depressing. It was bad for us millennials but now it’s even worse. I do feel shafted, tbh. By the older generation, who had so many advantages and have refused to pass the baton. The Tories made it even worse.

I’m glad we have a Labour government and I do believe they will make a difference. However, if you had told me when I was 23 that I still wouldn’t own a house at nearly 40, I think I would have definitely moved to another European country.

Obviously thanks to Brexit that isn’t as easy as it used to be. But if I were young here now I think I’d go if I could and try and build a life elsewhere. This simply isn’t a country that prioritises anyone under 50, or any ideology beyond greed and ownership and landlordism.

It's emigrate, not outmigrate

I agree with you. It's very concerning.

But what is Labour actually doing to kick start the economy? Nothing! Voted for this total Inept government. They will NEVER get my vote again. They have no plan to generate wealth and seem scathing of anyone that works hard and doesn’t claim UC. Everyone I know if working their arses off and for what, nothing? Starmer and Burnham keep coming out saying they are going to do more for the ‘people’ but they are so narrow minded and short sighted their back benchers have comvinved them it is a socialist, far left Labour everyone wants. It’s not. We wanted a government that makes work pay. They are the opposite.

We have teens who are seeing these news articles

Have found it’s best to stay optimistic. They are young, healthy, clever, polite, kind, fun. And adaptable, humans are it’s a large part of our success. No one expected us to be on the road to career success when we left school. They will work something out. They have to.

We don’t know if they will stay in UK (EU passports here as well which will help), or if their uni fees are going to be an utter waste of cash. But you don’t move forward being paralysed by pessimism.

It is a mess right now but at least people are talking about it finally. That can be the start of the catalyst for change.

Why glad? Youth unemployment has gone up under Labour.

It has been widely reported that those that want to get jobs are really struggling. It isn't just lazy people on benefits, but people looking for work too. Assuming people on benefits are lazy is a very lazy assumption in itself.

Oh and we also have people actually working needing to claim benefits too.

A lot of people on benefits are working people anyway. If anything I'm surprised more people haven't given up on trying to find work given that it's not going to be a route to a better life if you still need to be topped up with handouts.

It has been widely reported that those that want to get jobs are really struggling
They do struggle, but with perceverence, they get there. The problem is they are not used to not get what they want right away so many give up too quickly.

The Tory's are just as bad. They killed all growth off with Austerity and the refusal to invest in their population.

The people who want to work are struggling because Labours policies are encouraging all the wealthy people to leave the UK so who is going to create the jobs?

Labour at least asked for Milburn to write a report.

Conservatives had years and didn’t give a toss.

Reform would just remove benefits for the young and disabled under the umbrella of “low state” low tax for the rich.

Companies will only put long term investment into a country if the have the belief of steady leadership. Not some media circus that will be a Reform government if it happens.

It’s what Reform make no attempt to hide, you will have to work it out yourselves. Which might be ok if your young adult is a white, healthy male.