Comments on: 1980s recession was worse for young people

By: Vital extension of support for young people | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:05:52 +0000

[...] unemployment, and to far lower numbers of young people being out of work and education than in previous recessions. It remains to be seen whether other parties will promise to match this key committment. Related [...]

By: Highest youth unemployment “since records began” or not as the case might be | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:08:46 +0000

[...] that the current set of statistics started in 1992, but reliable data goes back to 1984 as Nicola has [...]

By: Osborne calls for "honest debate" while manipulating the facts | Left Foot Forward

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:58:19 +0000

[...] as this blog pointed out last week, records only began in 1992 while the 1980s recession was far worse for young [...]

By: Swagata

Swagata — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:42:06 +0000

I’m glad you see the improvements since the 1980s, after all that was a quarter of a century ago. I suspect the schemes on offer in 1985 were an improvement on those in 1960, and that those in 1960 were superior to 1935 etc.

By: Nicola Smith

Nicola Smith — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:36:30 +0000

Thanks all for the comments. I absolutely agree there are real problems for young people in the labour market just now – while we welcome increased levels of training, poorer progression opportunities for young people with lower skills and a reduction in jobs in the middle of the income spectrum are real concerns for the TUC, as are increasing levels of household debt and reduced security at work.

But I also think it’s important to recognise that policy responses now are a significant improvement on those we saw in the 1980s. A paid job that incorporates training opportunities with experience is some distance away from a YTS scheme, and there is evidence to suggest that Government policy is playing at least a part in limiting the extent of the increases we’ve seen in unemployment.

By: Youth unemployment, now vs the 80s | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:30:20 +0000

[...] unemployment, now vs the 80s Posted at 4:30 pm on 15 Dec 09 by Nicola Smith I’ve written a guest post at Left Foot Forward today – looking at what is happening with youth unemployment now compared to the [...]

By: willstraw

willstraw — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:15:51 +0000

Well said, Anon.

Tim – What’s so disgraceful? Pointing out that things were worse in the 1980s or saying that this is no excuse for complacency?

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:13:01 +0000

Tim Connor – It’s called open debate – free speech and if you think this is “Really vile” you need to develop a thicker skin.

I assume Nicola Smith must know her stuff – it says she is the Senior Policy Officer at the TUC – so before you disagree with her outright, why don’t you try posting something more constructive than your comments which really are just how you feel about an article.

What contribution to this blog do your criticisms make really? Personally I think this woman raises some interesting points.

By: CVRepublic

CVRepublic — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:49:00 +0000

1980s recession was worse for young people (Left Foot Forward) http://url4.eu/w49M

By: Swagata

Swagata — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:09:28 +0000

The young always get messed with. In the 1980s it was pointless YTA schemes, today it’s debt-laden degree courses. And that’s before people start work. Thanks to the UK’s supremely flexible labour market, when some find work it can be part-time or even the disgraceful “zero hours contract” (google it!).