400,000 Long Term Jobless May Never Work Again ....
| Related: | Lifestyle•Jobs•Working |
So states a report in this week's Sunday press. It goes on to say that more than 400,000 may never work again after being jobless for two years or more. And 100,000 workers aged over 50 could be forced to retire early with smaller pensions due to a deteriorating job market. These grim predictions came after latest unemployment figures showed the dole queue has soared to nearly 2.5 million.
The number of people out of work is at its highest since 1997 and the figure has more than doubled since the financial meltdown of 2008. It is predicted this figure will soar even higher due to fierce and unparallelled competition for jobs. Worse of all, the number of young workers aged 18 to 24 out of work for two years or more has nearly trebled since 2008, from 36,000 to 95.000. 'Expert' opinion suggests that young people may never find work unless the government takes urgent action.
I think that this situation is going to deteriorate even further and I do not believe that society can never have a situation again where full and bouyant employment is available. I drive into work in the morning and see the same old faces, day after day, collecting their daily paper and walking the dog. These are people I would say 50+ but certainly not in retirement. OF course there is the element of people that are not of the 'work culture' and are happy to watch daytime television but there are many, many more who will never be employed and have lost dignity and drive as a result.
I suggest that with the current recession, the overpowering greed culture that we see in everyone that sets a price point in life and the daunting rise in population and immigration, not to mention a deterioration is life's values, we are going to see a situation where jobs decline rapidly and those that do exist will be minimum wage for the masses. With rises in technology and the rising trend to cut every two jobs to one ( remember when all buses were double crewed ), the situation is bound to escalate and tensions rise. Perhaps the recent riots were the start? And with government proposals to slash childcare costs through tax credits, parental responsibilities will also come under tremendous pressure.
Does anyone see any light at the end of the tunnel here? And is the problem beyond the control of the current government? And what responsibility does the current government hold here for its almost frightening and radical financial cuts? And with an increasing situation where people are not paying their taxes as a result, will this drive millions into increasing poverty in retirement? The government is talking about making people work longer and longer but can anyone pray tell me where that work will be coming from? God forbid we go back to Victorian work houses or the like!
I know this is depressing to say the least but I believe it is all very real and developing right now. All thoughts welcome .....
Responses (2)
I have long stated, and am on record on this site, stating that the policies of this government were to take us back to a past era.
That Britain would become nothing more than a theme park paying homage to the Victorian age, where the divide between the haves and have nots is greater than at anytime since Victoria's. The only difference being that a theme park is an illusion that recreates in real time a past age but this is now becoming a real time existence for many.
The social implications of having large swathes of young people and the over 50's being unable to work and maintain an independent status with pride is damaging for self-belief, self-worth, self-esteem and self-preservation.
We are in danger of consigning many to the scrapheap before they have been given a chance to flourish. What has become of aspirational Britain?
Where do we, as a society, show value to those lives that have contributed to life through hardwork and dedication to their families and have never drawn upon a welfare system (which, having contributed to is their absolute right). Yet they are required, like others not deserving of these benefits, to jump through a series of hoops to qualify for a benefit!
A life without hope is often perceived as a life not worth living.
What seriously concerns me is that the full effect of these cuts this government has introduced have yet to make an impact.
I saw with my own eyes the devastation unleashed upon many in the north-east during Thatcher's years. Many have never worked again or at all and have been a product of a welfare culture that this government has said was bursting to the extreme and needed reform and yet again,it is their policies that create this over reliance.
I cannot see light at the end of the tunnel if those long term jobless are waiting to hear from potential employers.Why? Well, potential employers will always be selective and go for the ones with the most recent experience and skills unless they employ someone they know as a friend or relative or thru a friend or relative. The only solution for them is to create one's own light thru one's own tunnel by focusing seriously and passionately on their great strengths and overall skills and endeavour to be a success working for oneself and producing serious income which they then re-invest for a decent retirement. You should no longer expect an employer or government to provide a decent retirement for you especially if you have a criminal record against you.
Well CS you have said everything and more that the article went on to say, particularly that it's an employers market. MY only doubt is that these long term unemployed, while lacking drive, current experience and most of all dignity, are going to find it hard to create their own light at the end of their own tunnel. The government can plough millions into motivating people and helping them get back into the workplace, but the jobs still have to be there to fill. And you are certainly right about providing one's own retirement income and that must be a focus of attention for everyone from leaving full time education. So many young people think that a pension can be 'earnt' over the latter years of their life when in reality 10% of everything they earn from day one should go into it.
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"What seriously concerns me is that the full effect of these cuts this government has introduced have yet to make an impact" ... you are absolutely right Parchester. I think another cold winter and one full of discontent will take us into a very gloomy 2012.
Lots of my friends are unable to retire as anticipated because of the Government putting the age up. They want to leave and enjoy whatever life time they have but now it is impossible as they won't be entitled to an old age pension. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a private pension this depends on the type of workplace you worked in also if you could afford to pay into a pension scheme. If a lot of these people had been allowed to retire
then those jobs would have been available to others needing a job. Where will it end Snoopy - God knows.
I know of so many people out of work now and who don't know where the next pay day will come from.
So right Sabre .. but even private pensions can be derisory as well. And you have to be old enough to take them, so they are not even a mild comfort unless you happened to be chairman of British Gas. And that's the point .. we will only have the 'rich' and poverty of the masses with little in between. AS I have said before, I fear for my own children and their children. What a sad world they are growing up in.