Coalition has created 'a lost generation'

16 November 2011

The coalition has been accused by a leading trade union of condemning "a lost generation of young people" to unemployment.

As today's unemployment figures soared to a 17-year high, Unite called on ministers to create 'a land bridge of opportunity' for young people between leaving university and college, and entering the world of work.

The unemployment rate for young people, aged 16-24, broke through the one million barrier in September. The total jobless figure was 2,620,000.

Unite General Secretary, Len McCluskey said: "The government has created a lost generation of young people unable to gain a foothold on the employment ladder."

"Ministers need to create a land bridge of opportunity for young people – our youth unemployment rate is twice that of Germany."

"It is not only a personal tragedy for the young people concerned, but it is also a waste of talent and potential, so necessary for economic growth, and is sowing the seeds for a whole raft of future social problems."

"The government needs to adopt a twin-track policy – having more targeted measures to help young people into work, while at the same time, reversing the hardline austerity measures that have sucked the life out of the British economy."

"One way forward would be to ensure that a greater percentage of apprenticeships should go to those aged under the age of 25."

Unite has been at the forefront of the campaign to save the country's youth services from swingeing cuts, which the union sees as a vital link in assisting young people into employment.

Len McCluskey said: "The rise in unemployment across the age range is an appalling indictment of the lack of economic imagination shown by this blinkered right-wing government."

"But it is not just young people facing unemployment pain. Women, who are doing skilled manual and admin/clerical jobs - many of them in the financially squeezed public sector - have either lost their jobs or face redundancy. Women also have the added burden of juggling the family finances, as inflation continues unabated."

"Manufacturing is struggling; consumer spending has been strangled; and economic confidence - whether it is investment decisions by business or job security for individuals - is at very low ebb,"

Unite has repeatedly called for the introduction of a Plan B aimed at boosting manufacturing; putting 'demand' back into the economy i.e. cutting the 20 per cent VAT rate; and maintaining the current level of public services.

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