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Speaking out about unemployment
Opinion: Under 25's have little option but to join the dole queues.
Unemployment among young people is one issue that has been overlooked in the last year of economic crisis in Ireland. With all the horror stories of bank collapses, global economy meltdowns, and large job losses, it’s rarely discussed how many Irish school-leavers and graduates currently have little option but to join the dole queues.
Since April 2008, the number of under 25’s on the Live Register has almost doubled from 41,000 to 81,000 in April 2009. By June 2011, that number had risen to 457,948.
This is a very depressing prospect for any young person who has been through an apprenticeship, or is about to graduate. It is very disillusioning for those who’ve spent years in education and training to get a qualification in a specific area, only to find few or no jobs are available.
There’s an obvious financial cost for the country to have so many young people receiving welfare instead of contributing to it, but there’s also a social cost that’s not so easily measured – possible tension, frustration, and despair in society that could cause even more problems in the future.
What's the answer?
So, what can we do? It has been suggested we emigrate, as many of our grandparents and great-grandparents did decades ago. The only problem is that nearly every other country in the world has gone into recession too, they have few employment opportunities available, and are issuing less work visas. Emigration won’t be as effective as it used to be, so Ireland is stuck with us for now!
The Government’s response so far has been even less helpful. Welfare cuts for under 20’s, a freeze on public sector job recruiting, tax hikes, and the threat to re-introduce third-level fees.
While state agencies, such as FÁS are trying their best, they are hampered by the sheer number of people out of work, and the lack of new vacancies available.
If the Government are serious about making Ireland an attractive place to live and work in, I would urge them to invest in education and training, to make sure that Ireland really does grow the ‘knowledge economy’ they’re so fond of just talking about. With enough research and funding, for example, Ireland could become a centre for green energy and new technology, creating employment, and possibly leading the world in these areas.
I would also urge the Government to keep supporting the community and voluntary sectors as much as possible, as they provide invaluable contributions to Irish society. This is particularly relevant to young people, as many more could become involved in these areas. It could be a way to gain important experience and skills, despite the lack of employment opportunities out there, while at the same time contributing to society and learning about active citizenship.
No doubt things have taken a turn for the worst at the moment, and everyone is feeling the pinch. However if Ireland doesn’t engage with its young people; seek out their skills, opinions, and ideas about how to tackle these problems, and try to create opportunities, however limited, we will all be counting the cost – economic and social – for years to come.
By: Andrew Gibbons
SpunOut.ie comments: Ireland facing ‘wasted generation’ of young people
Speaking on May Day, SpunOut.ie founder, Ruairí McKiernan, said:
“We reach thousands of young people each week and the mood out there is one of frustration, anger and rising tensions. Young people have the necessary ideas, energy and skills but feel they are not valued as equal citizens when it comes to understanding and solving the current range of economic, health, social and environmental issues.
This is leading to social tensions and a missed opportunity for government and decision makers to tap the talents of a generation that is highly educated, well travelled and eager to participate in forging a new direction for the country.
We are not going to get fresh thinking, ideas and innovation from the same people that got us into the current mess. We need to embrace the younger generation as a force for change and open up doorways for young people to participate in Irish life.
What we need now is a radical new approach to civic participation, where young and old from all walks of life are given opportunities to engage in decision making in their community and at national level. The alternative will, if the current pattern continues, result in missed opportunities and a bleak future for all.”
Sources:
Live Register, April 2009, Table 1b
Live Register, June 2011
More reading:
www.cso.ie/studentscorner/
www.statusireland.com/statistics/
