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Young, bright and able - but can't get a job | |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Danielle Codd Business reporter, BBC News | By Danielle Codd Business reporter, BBC News |
With unemployment figures for the UK released on Wednesday, young people have been hit hard by the economic downturn. | With unemployment figures for the UK released on Wednesday, young people have been hit hard by the economic downturn. |
Among the steady stream of people walking in and out of the Jobcentre on the corner of Kennington Park Road in south London is a smart young woman. | Among the steady stream of people walking in and out of the Jobcentre on the corner of Kennington Park Road in south London is a smart young woman. |
On the face of it, Liyana Solomon looks like she has the world at her feet. | On the face of it, Liyana Solomon looks like she has the world at her feet. |
Twelve months ago, the eloquent 22-year-old spent her time applying for graduate-level jobs in business development, but as time has passed she has lowered her aspirations. | |
She has recently been filling in applications for customer service roles and even made inquiries at her local coffee shop. | |
Now, Miss Solomon has been forced to sign on for the first time in her life. | |
"I've put it off for nearly a year now but I really, really need the money," she says. | "I've put it off for nearly a year now but I really, really need the money," she says. |
"I'm such a proud person. I hate the idea of depending on the state for benefits." | "I'm such a proud person. I hate the idea of depending on the state for benefits." |
Since the recession began, the number of unemployed recent graduates has doubled to 20%, according to the Office for National Statistics. | Since the recession began, the number of unemployed recent graduates has doubled to 20%, according to the Office for National Statistics. |
Graduate unemployment is now at its highest level in over a decade. | Graduate unemployment is now at its highest level in over a decade. |
And it is not just university graduates who are finding it difficult to get work. More than one in five of all 16-24-year-olds is currently jobless. | And it is not just university graduates who are finding it difficult to get work. More than one in five of all 16-24-year-olds is currently jobless. |
The government's policy is to retrain unemployed people, both young and old, on courses provided by the private sector. | The government's policy is to retrain unemployed people, both young and old, on courses provided by the private sector. |
A4e is one such company and at its flagship centre in Brixton, around 100 youngsters currently attend classes to learn vocational skills including hairdressing and beauty, bricklaying and hospitality. | A4e is one such company and at its flagship centre in Brixton, around 100 youngsters currently attend classes to learn vocational skills including hairdressing and beauty, bricklaying and hospitality. |
"The aim is to equip them with skills for entry level roles, for example in restaurants or in a hotel," says Denise Leander, the operations manager. | "The aim is to equip them with skills for entry level roles, for example in restaurants or in a hotel," says Denise Leander, the operations manager. |
While Miss Leander admits they have yet to get anyone into a such a job since the centre opened last June, she insists: "We have got a couple of young people who are waiting to move onto apprenticeships as a result of their experience here." | While Miss Leander admits they have yet to get anyone into a such a job since the centre opened last June, she insists: "We have got a couple of young people who are waiting to move onto apprenticeships as a result of their experience here." |
But a lack of qualifications and training is not something Miss Solomon has. | But a lack of qualifications and training is not something Miss Solomon has. |
She says she has been to more than 20 interviews since the new year and applied for countless other jobs. | She says she has been to more than 20 interviews since the new year and applied for countless other jobs. |
"I've been looking for a job now for almost a year and it brings you down. It's all very, very stressful." | "I've been looking for a job now for almost a year and it brings you down. It's all very, very stressful." |
She insists she remains optimistic, citing a recent advert she has seen for a six-month internship at a medium-sized IT company, which she intends to apply for. | She insists she remains optimistic, citing a recent advert she has seen for a six-month internship at a medium-sized IT company, which she intends to apply for. |
Miss Solomon knows that, at best, the internship would pay her lunch and travel expenses, but she believes it would be a foot in the door if she were lucky enough to get it. | Miss Solomon knows that, at best, the internship would pay her lunch and travel expenses, but she believes it would be a foot in the door if she were lucky enough to get it. |
"Sitting at home, doing nothing, is mind-numbing. I just want to work." | "Sitting at home, doing nothing, is mind-numbing. I just want to work." |
She plans to fund herself by getting jobseeker's allowance, but admits she is not sure that it will be allowed. | She plans to fund herself by getting jobseeker's allowance, but admits she is not sure that it will be allowed. |
To get the benefits, she says she has been told she will have to sign on at the Jobcentre every two weeks and prove she is committed to getting a paid job. | To get the benefits, she says she has been told she will have to sign on at the Jobcentre every two weeks and prove she is committed to getting a paid job. |
"I think long-term this internship could stand me in good stead to get a job I am qualified to do, but whether the system will actually fund me to do it is another thing." | "I think long-term this internship could stand me in good stead to get a job I am qualified to do, but whether the system will actually fund me to do it is another thing." |
Cutting back | Cutting back |
Nathan Morrison, who is 21, has the added pressure of providing for his young child and partner, who recently lost her job. | Nathan Morrison, who is 21, has the added pressure of providing for his young child and partner, who recently lost her job. |
The well-presented young man finished his IT diploma last summer and managed to find work straight way. | The well-presented young man finished his IT diploma last summer and managed to find work straight way. |
But he said he had to quit in December because the four-hour round-trip commute was too much of a strain. | But he said he had to quit in December because the four-hour round-trip commute was too much of a strain. |
Since then the young father reckons he has applied for more than 100 jobs. | Since then the young father reckons he has applied for more than 100 jobs. |
"It's not only IT jobs I've been applying for. I've been looking at all types of work, including shop work. | "It's not only IT jobs I've been applying for. I've been looking at all types of work, including shop work. |
"My strong point is my communication and personal skills but employers don't get to see that unless I get an interview. And I haven't been getting very many of them - maybe five since December." | "My strong point is my communication and personal skills but employers don't get to see that unless I get an interview. And I haven't been getting very many of them - maybe five since December." |
Mr Morrison says making ends meet is a real struggle. He claims he has not had a night out in over a year because he simply cannot afford it, while "snacks and treats are strictly off limit". | Mr Morrison says making ends meet is a real struggle. He claims he has not had a night out in over a year because he simply cannot afford it, while "snacks and treats are strictly off limit". |
It is difficult to imagine how the unemployed will not adversely be affected by the government's recent plan to close 22 Jobcentre Plus offices. | It is difficult to imagine how the unemployed will not adversely be affected by the government's recent plan to close 22 Jobcentre Plus offices. |
Ministers insisted the decision would not affect frontline services, but the PCS union condemned the move as "deeply flawed and dangerous". | Ministers insisted the decision would not affect frontline services, but the PCS union condemned the move as "deeply flawed and dangerous". |
Meanwhile, busy working away in A4e's fashion workshop is 17-year-old Rebecca, who is cutting material for one of her designs. | Meanwhile, busy working away in A4e's fashion workshop is 17-year-old Rebecca, who is cutting material for one of her designs. |
"I love fashion and retail, but I can't even get a job as a shop assistant," says the teenager. | "I love fashion and retail, but I can't even get a job as a shop assistant," says the teenager. |
"I've applied for around 100 jobs since the new year. Not many shops will take your CV anymore but I still walk in and ask them if they've got any work going, especially the smaller ones." | "I've applied for around 100 jobs since the new year. Not many shops will take your CV anymore but I still walk in and ask them if they've got any work going, especially the smaller ones." |
Rebecca says that once she turns 18, she is going to leave the country. | Rebecca says that once she turns 18, she is going to leave the country. |
"I can't get a job here so I'm going to go to Greece to live and hopefully get a bar job out there for three months. I feel I need to get away and reboot myself." | "I can't get a job here so I'm going to go to Greece to live and hopefully get a bar job out there for three months. I feel I need to get away and reboot myself." |
She might not have much luck though, because Greece's unemployment rate is 16%, which is double that of the UK. | She might not have much luck though, because Greece's unemployment rate is 16%, which is double that of the UK. |
As an economics graduate, Miss Solomon understands the financial predicament the government is in with regard to bringing down the budget deficit. | As an economics graduate, Miss Solomon understands the financial predicament the government is in with regard to bringing down the budget deficit. |
She accepts it cannot afford to create thousands of public sector jobs to keep people like herself employed, but she does believe more could be done. | She accepts it cannot afford to create thousands of public sector jobs to keep people like herself employed, but she does believe more could be done. |
"The government should give firms money to help subsidise the cost of employing graduates like me, so that we can get the experience we so desperately need. | "The government should give firms money to help subsidise the cost of employing graduates like me, so that we can get the experience we so desperately need. |
"Everyone says I've got the qualifications, I just need an opportunity to gain the work skills." | "Everyone says I've got the qualifications, I just need an opportunity to gain the work skills." |