At first reading, the 12,000 fall in the number of 18-24 year olds unemployed between Jan-March 2012 would seem consistent with the general fall in unemployment of 45,000.  At the same time however, there has only been a 3,000 increase in the number of 18-24 year olds working. This discrepancy reveals significant changes in … Continue reading A fall in youth joblessness but an increase in students →

It’s certainly true that if you go into any supermarket these days you will find far fewer young people on the tills. As Will Hutton observes ‘Talk to Sainsbury’s or any other major retailer and they say that they like older workers. They are more reliable, their absenteeism is lower, customers like them’ (quoted in … Continue reading Young people and the ‘ageing’ workforce →

Even though the Coalition has claimed that over 500 000 new private sector jobs have been created since it came to office, a large number, a majority in fact,  have been part-time. The monthly labour market figures from ONS regularly confirm the significance of part-time working in the UK economy. Figures for Dec 2011 -Feb … Continue reading Part-time Britain →

Latest  ONS  figures for the period Sept to Nov 2011 show:  1.04 million - 22.3% of ‘economically active’ 16-24 year olds are unemployed - up by 53 000.   829 000 -   20.8% of ‘economically active'  18-24 year olds are unemployed - up by 44.000. 729 000 unemployed 16-24 year olds ‘not in full-time education’ - … Continue reading Latest unemployment figures speak for themselves →

The Department for Education has now published it figures for the number of NEETs. (Young people Not in Employment, Education or Training) and a more accurate measurement of youth unemployment.  According to the DfE, there are 1.16 million 16-24 NEETs – almost 1 in 5 of all young people.  The figures also show over 21% … Continue reading Too many NEETs. The Coalition feels the pressure →

Martin Allen The current level of youth unemployment  is not only a national disgrace, but also potentially disabling for other areas of society;  particularly the education system where young people are taught to play by the rules and work hard to ensure a prosperous future -only to find that their qualifications buy them less and … Continue reading Guardian letter 17/10/11 Youth unemployment →

The 80 000 increase in unemployment for the period April to June  (taking the total to 2.51 million and 7.9%)   intensifies the pressure on a bedraggled  Coalition  government . Much of this increase is the result  of  rises in youth unemployment - 20.8% of 16 to 24 year olds (973,000) are officially out of work. … Continue reading As youth unemployment rises towards 1 million: new challenges for educators →

Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley (https://radicaled.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/a-youthful-precariat/) Last month’s riots have intensified debate about the position of young people in society and the growth of a new urban underclass. For some, particularly Precariat author Guy Standing, the looting of shops and the confrontations with the police are another example of the actions of this new and dangerous … Continue reading A youthful precariat? (part-two) →

Martin Allen The latest ONS unemployment statistics show a further fall in youth unemployment – 917 000  16-24 year olds are out of work, down 42 000 on the previous quarter.  Conduct a more thorough analysis however and you’ll quickly discover a different picture          To begin with, as ONS itself recognises, there are problems with … Continue reading The rise and rise of workless youth. ‘Unemployment’ might be falling but not youth joblessness →