For young people, the future is looking . Options for people aged between 16 and 24 are severely limited. Unemployment is at an all time low, University fees are set to skyrocket and the government is intent on closing every opportunity available for school leavers.
Recent figures from the Office of Nation Statistics estimated that more than 919,000 16-24 year olds are unemployed. It’s hard enough to get a job in the current economic climate, for anyone as well as the rising population of young people going straight into employment after school. The lucky few who do get a job are first in the firing line when lay-offs are concerned. Coupled with upcoming removal of the cap on tuition fees, the next generation of young people are looking towards a future without opportunities. If the recommendation from the government to remove the tuition fee cap goes ahead the price of going to university could double, financially crippling any potential students, deterring them from entering higher education. This move would force many 16-24 year olds to forget about university and enter the world of full time employment. From my own experiences I know that it is hard to find a job, and even harder to keep it. How can any young person expect to gain experience in employment if no company will employ them due to their lack of experience.
Young people currently studying at university are facing the possibility of being unemployed, even with a degree behind them. The lack of available graduate jobs forces thousands of potential graduates to fight for one or two jobs. Eden Stead, 20, a Third year Information Systems student at Nottingham Trent university says: “if I don’t get a decent job straight after university, I’ll feel like I have wasted three years and thousands of pounds on a degree which is basically useless. I’m beginning to panic now even though I have another year of university left.” Another Nottingham Trent Student, Hermione Gingell, 20, who studies English says: “I’m not worried about getting a job after university; I’m worried that I won’t be able to get a job in something I am interested in and which is relevant to my degree.” Many other students feel the same. They believe that the future is not as bright as it seems.
However all is not lost, young people do have a voice in the fight against the government plans to cut off all of this generations futures. Youth Fight for Jobs is an organisation who is campaigning for the rights of young people. Youth Fight for Jobs aims to protect the future of young workers in the United Kingdom. They campaign for a higher minimum wage; one that people can comfortably live on. They believe that all apprenticeships should be paid at the minimum wage, helping young people earn money as well as training. The removal of university fees features high on their agenda. This organisation is constantly fighting for the rights of young people. Paul Callanan of Youth Fight for Jobs says: “Young People are being thrown on the scrap heap by the government. They are being forced to pay for a crisis caused by the rich. The Government is trying to privatise higher education, which is bad news for the youth of today.” The organisation is currently campaigning with the trade unionist council against youth unemployment. Youth Fight for Jobs are trying hard to mobilise different organisations around the country to stand together and unite for the common cause.
If you are interested in this cause visit www.youthfightforjobs.com to see how you can help.
Luke Westwood
images: Youth Fight For Jobs (c) (2010)
Tags: degree, graduates., job, unemployment, university, young people, youth fight for jobs
