The Lost Generation

Youth unemployment has reached an unprecedented high, effecting almost 1 million young people in the UK. With more young people struggling to enter the labour market there are fears that we are encountering a lost generation. Within recent years, higher education institutions have relaxed their entry requirements, attracting a more diverse range of applicants, making it a much fairer system for those who would be classed as disadvantaged. As a result of this we now have more graduates obtaining a bachelor’s degree, which is great, it’s a massive achievement, however this achievement doesn’t really mean as much when it does not help you get to where you want to go. We invest 3 or 4 or even 5 years of our time and money in studying, in the hope that it will open up the opportunities broadcast to us before and during our many years of study. We are all told by our parents, teachers and the government that the key to success is through education, while this may be true for some, others find this to be some kind of myth as their paths to success are blocked. There are several reports and articles highlighting the issue of youth unemployment, and while it is important for issues to be brought to our attention, sparking public debate, it is even more important for us to discuss solutions for this widespread issue. There are many different schemes, projects and programmes that aim to help young people (and old people) get work offers, but are they really working? What more can be done to help this “lost generation” of young individuals who want to work? Not just work in any job but a job that is level with the skills and qualifications the individual has obtained...underemployment, don’t even get me started on that one, that is a whole other topic, one which may surface in my next blog, so stay tuned. Feel free to comment or get in touch; let me know your thoughts.