Reality check: Is this the hardest time ever to grow up?

Graham_Devon

With youth unemployment hitting records. Rents soaring to record highs. Since 1990, the "average" deposit has risen from £6,793 to £65,924 (on some dubious scale). And we've also got uni fee's.

So, is this generation bust? And is there anyone looking out for them? Or even concerned? The guardian relate this to the babyboomer generations riding the waves of increasing house prices, and look at the book "How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future - And How They Can Give it Back."

Guardian are asking for input on this one. Thought it might be worthwhile posting it up.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2011/oct/12/unemployment-unemployment-and-employment-statistics

Mallotum_X

Depends, id rather be a kid now than 150 years ago and being sent down a mine or up a chimney.

Jobs might be hard to come by once into your 20s, but there is a safety net of sorts, so they dont have to take the kings shilling and go off to die in some pointless war.

Every generation has its tough times, and no doubt we will get though all this, just looks like a long slow drawn out process.

chewmylegoff

presumably by worst time ever they mean the worst time ever to grow up in this country in the last 50 years, by reference to whether you can get a job and buy a house or not?

or even "the worst time ever, since records began*". * = records began in 1992 - ha ha!

further, the population was significantly smaller in 1992. the 1991 census had the population at 55 million. it's about 65 million now. so whilst 965,000 young people unemployed now is more than 925,000 in 1992, it sounds like the actual % of youth unemployment was higher in 92/93, so it was presumably harder to find work then, and 15% interest rates can't have made it any easier to buy a house...

Carl31

I find it quite laughable that youths quality of life is guaged on whether they can buy a house or not

Go to a country riddled in famine, disease and low mortality rates and cry about not being able to buy a house, its not exactly hardship, it sounds a bit spoilt if anything

ok, things arent ideal, but theres plenty of options in this country to get a roof over your head

Rinoa

Typical Guardian article. Alaways preaching about how a particular section of society is hard done by, but never offering a viable solution other than throw taxpayers money at it.

Conrad

OP - I get what you mean but the interesting thing is that many psychological studies have found each generation believes the next will have it worse, you can litterally set your watch by it. I read all about it in a book I strongly recommend you read - FUTUREBABBLE.

We seem to mentally view the past as better than it really was. Think back to 1981 - go watch Ghost Town on youtube by The Specials for example - it summarises the intense missery and fear of the times. Things we now forget or dismiss were very much big fears back then, but later we always say 'oh they weren't as bad as today'.

1981:

Middle east wars

Propsect of world nuclear war - a very real fear for my generation not to be underestimated

High inflation

Very high unemployment ('I am a 1 in 10')

Peak oil fears (Jimmy Carters address' to the nation is 1977 and 1980 was very grave on this and caused wide spread worry and panic buying of food and provisions)

Several mainstream respected economic predictions that said we and the US were finished (how easily we forget these) and that Japan and Korea would take over

Cold war

Iron curtain

AIDS

OPEC worries

Several high profile prediction theories of a world famine that would engulf the west (population bomb, was one such, and a best selling book)

Recent 3 day weeks and power cuts fresh in the memory

Britain as the 'sick man of Europe'

Rising repos

African mass famine

Falklands war - around the corner

Del Boy just about scraping a living

Really2

Conrad wrote: »

Propsect of world nuclear war - a very real fear for my generation not to be underestimated

Yep, ask me when I was 10, 12 or 14 I thought I would never see 20-30 years old.

Graham_Devon

Can I just make it clear it's a guardian article, which I thought would be an interesting dicussion point. Not my thoughts.

atush

My kids are getting a free ride to uni (via the bank of mom and Dad), so they are no worse off. My 3rd year Uni student has a job offer already for after his degree.

The 17 yr olds have had trouble getting part time work, but then again they are busting their butts looking either. they have applied a few places though. The statistics are flawed though as they are including all 16-22 yr olds in full time eductaion as 'unemployed'.

Things probably are tougher for todays kids than many of us had, but they will live longer too. They certainly aren't allowed to be kids with all the sex and violence they are exposed to.

wastedtalent

I don't think its ever comparable, we can only deal with the circumstances at the time.

Really2

Hard time to get a job, yes, easier time to grow up, quiet possibly.

I had my first new push bike at the age of 12 years old, my son had his a the age of 3.

It's all relative, kids have pretty much what they want are are brought up to expect to achive high.

there was a sensible lad on the radio, he was saying how it is drilled in to them that you go to uni and earn well, so they apply for the top jobs when they leave.
He did some TV show and realised he was aiming to high initially and needed to lower his sights and work his way up.

We have told our kids do well in education and you will get a great job.

What we should have said is do well at school get a job and work hard and you will do well.
We seem to forgot about the working bit and how important that is.

We also have seem to forgot not everyone can have a high paid job.