Almost 90% of people made unemployed in the past year are under 35s

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Shocking statistics from the ONS today showing 88% of jobs lost in the year from feb 2020--feb 2021 were jobs of people under 35, more than 60% in those under 25. Feels like a poweder keg of resentment will go off soon, the social impact of such a generational divide will be massive (especially as under 35s are largely not at risk from the virus).

www.politicshome.com/news/article/ons-employment-young-people-face-employment-crisis-as-88-of-job-losses-affect-under-35s

I'd prefer to be accused of having no resilience, rather than be blamed for devouring my own grandchildren future! That's pretty grotty. My parents have certainly not devoured my children's futures. I truly believe my daughter's future is going to be better than what my parents currently have.

Is this really what you think about your parents and grandparents? I guess you could be seen as lucky for growing up with wealthy parents.

Surely is was a point based on statistical evidence as opposed to just your parents?

I agree that to accuse the baby boomers of 'devouring their grandchildren' is nasty and incredibly hurtful.

You cannot blame a generation for benefitting from policies that aimed to improve standards of living for the working classes post WW2. I'm glad that things improved for people, I'm grateful to the female boomers who fought hard for equal rights for women at work, despite the fact we've still got a long way to go it was them who set the wheels in motion. People of all generations have not done enough to hold successive governments to account on how we seem to be going backwards as a society in terms of home ownership, salaries etc.

To say they have 'devoured' their grandchildren- many of them have done a lot to help their own children to buy houses, and yes I know it's not great that this is what has been necessary for the young to buy their own houses, but it's so nasty to suggest that none of them care about future generations. And clearly lots of young people vote Tory as well.

I don't like the ignorance of some older people who want to call us 'generation snowflake', who want to ignore the statistics on home ownership, salaries post 2008 and the jobs crisis for young people as a result of the pandemic. Plenty of older people are concerned about these things But there are many young people who need to wake up a bit and stand up for themselves and what is being done at present as well.

Is this really what you think about your parents and grandparents?

It is, yes, I’m afraid. My own parents voted enthusiastically for Brexit and were very open about how they recognised the adverse consequences it would have for my generation and my daughter’s, but didn’t care. All their friends and my extended family are the same, as are many of my friends’ parents. They unfailingly vote Tory in every election and fervently believe everything the Daily Mail tells them. With Covid, they are breaking all the guidelines now they’ve been vaccinated and are bitterly complaining about how they can’t go on holiday yet. The other day DM wrote to her MP for the first time ever... to express her fury at the gap between her vaccine doses being longer than 3 weeks.

Of course I appreciate that it’s not all Baby Boomers, and that many older people are less entitled, less privileged and much more empathetic and socially responsible. But I think in years to come, when we look at broader generational trends, we will see that there was a sizeable subset of that generation who benefited hugely from the post-war social contract and years of economic boom, then voted consistently to pull up the drawbridge behind them.

It’s not what I think about my parents because it’s not about individual people. It’s not my parents’ fault that the government prioritises the triple lock on pensions at the expense of any increases in support for working age people who need help from the benefits system. But it is their generation’s fault. It’s not an attack on individuals to recognise that there is huge inter generational unfairness in this country which has been massively exacerbated by the response to Covid 19.

And clearly lots of young people vote Tory as well

Sorry, but statistically at population level they don’t. In the 2019 general election 21% of 18-24 year olds voted Tory, compared to 67% of the over 70s.

And, while people are quick to assert that young people don’t vote, so can hardly complain about the outcome of elections, the other big problem that younger generations face is demographics. Even if the young all turned out and voted en masse for non-Tory parties, there simply aren’t enough of them to outvote the Baby Boomers. They simply don’t have the numbers.

many of them have done a lot to help their own children to buy houses, and yes I know it's not great that this is what has been necessary for the young to buy their own houses

But that's a huge part of the problem, many young peoples own future is dependent on whether their own parents own a house & whether they can help them.

Even if the young all turned out and voted en masse for non-Tory parties, there simply aren’t enough of them to outvote the Baby Boomers. They simply don’t have the numbers.

This, the median age in 2016 was 40 & with lowering fertility rates & lower immigration its only going up. One reason why covid hit us so hard.

But the decrease in people having children wont be felt for a while, by that time boomers will be dying out and the Xs and milennials will be the ones voting, along with the Zs.

I guess there will always be generational divide. When the boomers die, no doubt the Xs and milennials will be charged with far worse crimes e.g not doing enough to secure a livable planet. To me, that will be unforgivable.

But then what do you say to the young who did vote Tory then? Or is just the boomers who are responsible for all ills in the world? Do you think that boomers vote Tory with the sole aim of 'devouring' their grandchildren?

I don't quite see the relevance when discussing job losses for the young/the decisions made in the pandemic either. No one voted Tory considering what their response would be in a pandemic.

In honesty the young probably would have been worse off under labour during the pandemic, as they seem to be more supportive of harsher restrictions. Ive seen far more Tory backbencher as speak out against damaging restrictions.

And I say this as a labour voter and a vehement Tory basher.

But the decrease in people having children wont be felt for a while,

Et, its already an issue now...

Of course I appreciate that it’s not all Baby Boomers, and that many older people are less entitled, less privileged and much more empathetic and socially responsible. But I think in years to come, when we look at broader generational trends, we will see that there was a sizeable subset of that generation who benefited hugely from the post-war social contract and years of economic boom, then voted consistently to pull up the drawbridge behind them.

Actually @TempsPerdu that's a really fair and balanced comment. As a broader trend, it's a fair point to extrapolate from what all the data honestly shows. I really dislike the mindset of people who benefitted massively and don't want the same for their children, that keep quiet about the injustices.

I can't remember which PP said about part of the problem being that only people whose parents own homes are able to help them and I agree. It's not just that, even if parents are able to help, people don't want that- they want things to be affordable enough for them to be able to buy without help.

No I don't think my mum has devoured my son's future. She votes Labour, voted to remain in the EU and doesn't moan about teenagers being at fault for everything.

However, in the area I live in, all the wealthy people of a certain age voted for Brexit and vote Tory.

I know just as many older people out of work, me included. I am in my fifties. A lot of my family have also lost their jobs ranging from 20's to 60's.
Yet I keep reading that the number of people in jobs is slowly going back to pre pandemic levels.
Personally I don't think I will work again and I feel for my two female relatives, one of whom has chronic health issues and unlikely to be anyones first choice as an employee. :(

I don't quite see the relevance when discussing job losses for the young/the decisions made in the pandemic either. No one voted Tory considering what their response would be in a pandemic

It’s relevant because, coming out of this crisis, we need some kind of huge impetus, akin to the new social contract after WW2, that recognises the sacrifices made by young people and the myriad ways they are now disadvantaged, and seeks to do something about them. We need a big boost to child and young adult MH support; more affordable housing; tax reform; lots more money pumped into schools and early years to make up the gaps in education and child development...

But I can’t see any of it happening because the political will isn’t there. The government has kept their Baby Boomer voter base happy throughout the pandemic, and knows their votes are largely pretty much assured. There’s no need for them to pander to the young for votes.

So the schools will remain underfunded. House ownership will remain out of reach for an increasing number of young people. The pensions triple lock will remain in place until it becomes completely unsustainable. And there’ll be nothing done to reform elderly social care because it’s not a vote winner.

Meanwhile the young get to pay back the almost unimaginably huge debts incurred during lockdown. My privileged, middle class, only child DD will most likely be fine with all this, but millions of others won’t be.