An expert warns that Generation Z members are constantly attached to their gadgets and expect at least £40,000 annually for their work.
The message was conveyed to the Lords’ social mobility policy committee by Graham Cowley, who deals with youth in Blackpool who are not employed, in education, or undergoing training (NEETS).
Cowley, testifying about the reasons behind youth economic disengagement, shared details from a discussion he had with another professional who mentioned that ‘youngsters spend all their time online and aren’t interested in working unless they can earn at least $40,000.’
After witnessing the concern from the committee members regarding his comment, Cowley further stated: “Yes, I shared that same feeling. Go ahead and chuckle, yet that remains the truth.”
His comments came after a study was released early this month by the Learning and Work Institute revealing that 13 percent of all individuals aged between 16 to 24 years old in the UK are neither in school, working nor gaining skills through formal training programs.
That figure, as reported earlier this year by the Office for National Statistics, corresponds to nearly one million youths — the highest rate since 2013.
Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the large number of disengaged young Britons represents a ‘moral concern,’ while the Prime Minister has cautioned about the risk of losing an entire generation.
Cowley’s comments are unlikely to alleviate these worries, especially since the UK job market has slowed down after Rachel Reeves’s budget last October. This resulted in businesses having fewer funds available for salary increases and hiring additional employees.
According to The Learning and Work Institute, the NEET rate was notably higher in Wales (15 percent) and the North East (16 percent), contrasting sharply with figures from London (9 percent) and the South East (10 percent).
Stephen Evans, the head of the institution, stated that the count of NEETs who have not held any paying jobs before is both “extremely alarming and deeply concerning.”
It’s not particularly startling news for teenagers at 16,” stated Evans regarding findings indicating that 58 percent of NEETs have never held a paying job. “However, the reality that individuals are approaching their mid-20s with nearly half having never had a substantial job is rather alarming.
‘There will be significant long-term effects on their future job opportunities if we don’t take urgent action soon.’
Cowley advocated for placing greater focus on teaching the significance of a solid work ethic from an early age.
There’s an issue with what’s happening in the minds of these youngsters,” he stated before the committee. “If we could reach out to them at an earlier stage and instill in them the idea that ‘you need to work hard to achieve your goals in life,’ I think there would be significant merit in undertaking such efforts.
Lord Watts responded by saying it was understandable for young individuals who anticipate receiving meager earnings to feel discouraged and decide that “it would be more pleasant to remain at home rather than attempting to navigate through life.”
In an effort to reform the welfare system, Liz Kendall, who serves as the work and pensions secretary under Labour, intends to introduce a ‘Youth Guarantee’ aimed at individuals aged between 18 and 21.
This plan mandates that mayors and local officials guarantee youth gain access to apprenticeships, educational programs, and vocational training, as well as support them in their job search efforts.
Those who refuse to take up work and training opportunities would lose their benefits, the government has warned.
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