Source: The Economist
Nothing British is concerned that the recent trend-breaking rises in youth unemployment creates a perfect incubator for political extremism, intolerance and populism.
Figures out today by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that the number of youths not in employment, education or training (NEETS) among under-25s has risen from 700,000 in February 2008, to 928,000 in June 2009.
The figures will worry Whitehall and City Hall policy-makers who thought they had turned the tide of youth unemployment. The Times lays the blame with the Government by saying that they have not done enough to combat this problem.
Nothing British feel that it is Labour’s greatest failing that a government that promised to tackle poverty and promote fairness has failed quite to train our young people for the modern world, despite vast expenditure on ineffective schemes.
The consequences for many of this generation of under-skilled British workers is a life-time of unfulfilled potential, higher instances of social problems like divorce, criminality and substance-abuse, and under-achievement in the increasingly competitive global workplace.
No wonder some of these people will become disillusioned with where Westminster is taking Britain and end up becoming vulnerable to the messages of racists and extremists.
Tags: economy, unemployment
