Cost of living. Teens with no jobs

[monkeysox]

The whole COL crisis is exacerbated by huge supermarket chains (one example) who are making huge profits. They don't employ as many young people (automation) so the cost of the kid's needs falls on the parents who have huge bills themselves.
I always had a Saturday or evening job.
Businesses aren't hiring nearly as much as 30 years ago.
Aibu?

I live in a hmo. In the past 4 years the majority of people moving in either short term or long term have been Indians.
The short term tennants then move out as they move the family over from India.
People are being drawn towards people coming over on boats so they don't notice all the immigrants the government is legally letting in.
They are not just taking the supermarket type jobs either. Alot seem to be highly educated in I.T. So they are taking university graduates jobs as well.

Does it though? I would never make my DCs pay for their own basics, they’re my kids and my responsibility to pay for what they need, plus some allowance money. If they manage to get a job when they are teenagers that money will be for their savings and the really luxury stuff if they want it.

Of course it does. Giant dc still need clothes and trainers and money to go out.

Well, they are getting jobs because they were the best candidate that applied.

I did fruit picking in the 90s aged 13 for £1.98ph!

I had jobs all throughout school... Now I come to think of it though none of them were officially hiring. You just went in and asked til someone said yes.

^ This. Food is actually relatively cheaper in UK than other comparable countries. Margins are very slim for supermarkets when you factor in everything. And don’t forget all the theft.
It’s good to see supermarkets investing in UK farming - food security it going to be a big issue in the future.

If the government didn't waste money , sorted out a fairer tax system and collected tax from big companies who avoid paying tax then allowing people to retire at 65 would be a simple thing to help the job market.

Exactly. See also a significant proportion of farming work (friends employ Romanian staff on a dairy farm).

Were they really?

I worked in a shoe shop which was big chain. My freinds got jobs in all sorts of shops not just independents. My 19 yr old has been applying for jobs and practically all of them gave centralised recruitment where you send off your cv to apply. Even as a pot washer! this just seems over the top for under 18 first job. There should be more flexibility for managers to employ local young people

The businesses who employ young people in our area tend to be offering cash in hand and have come dubious working practices.

i think minimum wage is very laudable but not helpful for getting young teenagers into work

Why else would they employ them?

How do you think employers normally select people?

I have a large extended family, many teens, all have or recently had p/t jobs. Starbucks,cinema,stables,hairdressers, KFC, pubs, restaurants/wedding venues.
I agree it's better to approach employers directly or ask their friends where they work and go ask there. The supermarkets ask daft questions that are aimed to trip ppl up. Same old fashioned things apply, smart and presentable, able to communicate properly, punctual and flexible.
We live rurally but near to a couple of small towns, possibly less competition? IDK.

Isn’t it up to parents to private their DCs with clothes though? They’re necessities.

Yes I think this was it, it’s not like I’m advocating young people being ripped off, but there was a whole economy based around parents paying roof over head/bills, kids finding their own social lives and saving up for clothes. No one ever expected us to earn a living wage I don’t think. With the result that it was cheap and easy (I never noted much paper work in some places, but think I was definitely on the books? Ie got payslips.) to hire teens. Not sure what the answer is for young twenty somethings though.

Yes basics. But some families can't afford to buy nice or named stuff and so dc having some of their own money would help.

Same my local Primark is 99% Indian staff and managers.

Yes it’s widespread across IT too, Indian consultancies and people that have come over on visas.
It’s all over the IT forums so many can’t get work.

My son finished sixth form in May. We spent two solid weeks searching for jobs. You need to search directly on company sites rather than rely on sites such as Indeed. You need to be fast and tailor your cv to each job. They will close the job as soon as they have enough applicants. An example being, Greggs, needed a verification email to complete application, son went to have a shower and within 45 mins the job was pulled as had enough applicants. It was a relentless two week slog of searching. He secured 4 interviews. Got offered a part time job at second interview on Friday and started today at a well known store. He was turned down for interview by Burger King - he spent 3 hours creating his profile and completing tasks for them. He has minimal experience - had a little cafe job in 2024 - that was a work experience placement arranged by school that turned into a summer job.

India is the largest country in the world by population. In recent years emigration seems to have grown exponentially - Canada has accepted thousands, as has Australia. It's particularly evident in Canada compared to even 10-15 years ago, where they have taken over many of the small businesses in a very short space of time.

I'm all for hard working immigrants making a better life for themselves (I'm an immigrant myself), but do question why the government continues to grant so many visas when their own citizens are struggling to find work. It certainly isn't a 'skills shortage' issue.

YABU because I spend the same amount/ provide the same level of support to my DC regardless whether they work or not.

I don't supply luxuries or going out ££. If they want that, they work. If they don't work, they live with the basics I provide. The only cash they will have is birthday/ Christmas.

And is it worth asking people locally if they have jobs that need doing?
Especially elderly people?

Well done Bilbo63 for helping your son find a job.

'They don't employ as many young people (automation) so the cost of the kid's needs falls on the parents who have huge bills themselves.'
Idk what age 'teen' you're talking about here, but until your kids are 18, they ARE your bills. They might be able to get a job, they might not - but you should certainly expect that you are funding their needs until they're 18

My 20 year old niece has just got herself a barmaid waitress job in a local pub. She's always been willing to work and can turn her hand to anything. There's work out there if you look hard enough. Oh, and she'll be in her final year at University in September.

some of us rely on our teens getting jobs as we don’t have the spare money to give them pocket money because the bills come first. I thought that’s what the OP was saying. It’s good to work part time and I know when I was young it subsided my Uni (drinking) costs.

my eldest has 2 part time jobs but she went door to door through the 2 local towns asking for work. One job is minimum wage but the other is an ad hoc cash in hand job which is really a favour to her as she was desperate for work at the time ( we sort of know the owner).

For a 16/17 year old to work 6 hours on a Saturday it would only cost £48 in England. So for jobs like the previous poster mentioned sweeping hair and making drinks in a hairdressers, that would be perfect for an inexperienced teen. Even stacking shelves, it doesn’t take much learning.