What do you do when the kids get left behind?

[Soph0571]

Across the West young people are being left behind. Unemployment rates are significantly higher for young people than any other age group. In the UK the figure has got as high as nearly a million, but is now sitting stubbornly @ 12.5%, against an overall rate of 4.2%. In some countries it is knocking on the door of 50%. Overall in Europe the rate is 16.1% against an overall unemployment rate of 7.3%. In America the youth unemployment rate is better @ 9.2% in January 2018, compared to an overall unemployment rate of 4.1%, not as concerning as in Europe, but still a full 5 percentage points higher than the average!

This must be a concern, right? I mean these kids are the ones that are going to be ruling the country when we are in our dotage. Their taxes will pay for our essential services. If we are not providing them with the jobs to develop their skills and earn their own money we are going to lose a whole generation to sustained and long-term unemployment and reliance on the state for support. That is a scary thought. But what can we do about it? As an employer is it my responsibility to employ young people who do not have the same level of skills (yet)? It has the potential to impact on organisational productivity in lean times. Of course, if we do not take it upon ourselves to employ and help young people develop their employability and vocational skills surely we are all in for a whole world of pain later on down the road?

So, what do we do? The kids are getting left behind. Do you remember the recession of the early 90’s? Whole communities got left behind then and never caught up again. In this time of austerity instead of a community it is a generation. Truly, a frightening thought.

[Sherman A1]

1. I dont know, but

Something needs to be done and quickly as many entry level jobs are being replaced through automation and consolidation. We need to come up with a plan that engages this group with a variety of approaches to utilize the skills that will make them productive and lead to fulfilling lives.