To think we need to start talking about the lack of jobs?

[Newmeagain]

This is prompted by quite a few threads I have read recently, from parents of young people looking for jobs or posters themselves struggling with finding a job.

I feel like a lot of responses are completely out of touch and people are not aware how hard it is right now. There are no “supermarket jobs” etc that you can just pick up.

I think this is having a particularly significant impact on school leavers and graduates looking for their first full time job, students wanting part time work and also anyone over 50 who suddenly finds themselves unemployed.

Bump

Current student here. I’ve been doing temp work all summer for various companies from car park stewarding to admin cover. Obviously areas vary but I do wonder if people just don’t know where to look.

Yes it sounds like its tougher now than 20 years ago. But also some people have different experiences so some areas may fair better than others

This is a huge problem right now. Our young people are facing some real challenges.
Good for M&S pledging to take 1000 young people on. The government needs to give some incentives for more companies to do this.

DH has been unemployed for two years now. 75% of the interviews he's had he's got through to final round only for the job (tech consulting) to be pulled - it's heartbreaking.

Yes it’s a huge issue that is not being effectively addressed

AI has had a severe impact on the job market in some industries. It's a really tough time to be looking for work - most vacancies apparently get a really high number of applicants.

I'm not sure how this changes. It needs to, otherwise the future is pretty bleak for many of our young people.

What a silly thing to say! Why are you targeting one race?

Do you mean roles outsourced to Indian companies?

But are young people willing to do the jobs? There doesn’t seem to be the work ethic you would see 20 years ago.

@oliviaAustin can I ask how old you are and what experience you have?

I agree! My nieces, nephews and d kids I know in neighbourhood don’t seem to have issues working. Argos is constantly advertising for jobs. My neighbour kid just got job stabling shelves in Tesco, there’s literally so many jobs. I just feel people are too fussy.

Do you mean like outsourced call centres to India? Because the push for that was ages ago. I think lots have moved back here now too as people weren't keen.

If you mean Indians working here in the UK the ones have come across are in pretty technical and skilled jobs- dentists, finance, IT, law, actuarial. They are smart and ambiguous and very hard working. India is a safe country, people aren't emigrating here unless they are from middle class to higher backgrounds with a good education behind them. They might be shelf stacking alongside their studies but they'd have the same chances at interview as any other student.

@Lonelymarrusge yes, I think they are. The problem is that many of the jobs that existed years ago no longer exist.

Supermarkets have much fewer employees.
Most offices have very few admin staff - e.g. in my professional job, I used to have a secretary/pa - I no longer do.
Very few call centres.
No factories.

People are talking about it! There was a hugely consequential report published by Alan Milburn just a few weeks ago.

My lodger has a first class degree in computer science.

She has applied to literally hundreds of jobs. She doesn't get retail or hospitality jobs because she's seen as overqualified and will not be planning to be there long term.. She doesn't get computing jobs because the market has crashed. She doesn't get computing-adjacent jobs because she lacks experience.

So no, it's not because she's not willing to do the jobs. She's currently working part time as a cleaner. A job she only got because she volunteers for the organisation and they know how hard she's been trying.

I went into a McD’s in a little town in Surrey today. All customers were white, all staff were Indian.

Once you start to notice it it’s difficult not to.

I think international student visas have been abused.

I despise the "fussy" narrative, we are setting up a generation that aspiring to have a career that provides the ability to get a mortgage, own a car is now considered delusional and people called lazy for holding out for a job with prospects. Worse by those in the media in their corporate jobs.

There is no job market around here. It’s depressing, DH has been looking for a new job and there is literally nothing in his field at all.

I worry about my teens finding jobs (if they ever do) Most of the local pubs have closed, supermarket jobs are virtually impossible to find, I checked the local jobs and there is literally nothing within a 20 mile radius…

Going to be rough for my kids that’s for sure.

That's been turbo charged by the increase in employers' NI and minimum wage increases. If you make it more expensive to employ people at a time when new technology is making it possible to employ less people there is only going to be one outcome I'm afraid.

It's not just young people tho, I've been looking since June last year had three interviews in that time and you can tell it's my age. Almost 60 with over 40 years of sales and management experience. There is nothing to give away my age on applications but it's hard not to notice in person. Still got 22 years on the mortgage so need to find something. I have applied for everything from room maid, kitchen porter, Tesco. co op, post office to the jobs I am qualified for. I volunteer for several charities and xan5 claim benefits anymore as that's just for six months. It's a tough economy

I've noticed the same in Devon. Fast food places like McDonald's and KFC and supermarkets are predominantly staffed by people from India. I would say it's been a noticeable change in the last 3-6 months.

Why is that?
Is it because they are cheaper to employ? That white people are not applying for these roles? Or is it a question of work ethic? Combination of the three? Something else?

Are they propped up by parents, or can they live independently on their hours?
The OP mentioned over 50s. The local Betfred closed and it's been impossible for all of the staff, all over 40 and bloody hard workers, to get enough hours, even working as domestics in the local hospitals. My DD (catering staff NHS) is desperate for more hours. Look up jobs in your area, under 20 hours is becoming the norm. Home Bargains Tom Morris is praised to high heaven, but gives 16 hour contracts. They were fine in the days of WC and rent/council tax being paid, but they are useless if on UC.