Education unions and youth campaigners have condemned a threat from David Cameron to ban the dole for under-25s if they are not “earning or learning”.
Reacting to the Conservative leader’s speech at the end of his party’s conference in Manchester, they said demonising young people as lazy and any restriction of benefits would not solve deep-rooted problems of rising youth unemployment.
Critics say the Prime Minister’s comments avoided addressing the growth of low paying temporary jobs or inadequate training.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Youth unemployment has increased under this government, with nearly a million young people in desperate need in work. One of its first acts was to abolish support to help young people into work through the Future Jobs Fund.
“Given the government’s awful track record of helping young people find jobs, the Prime Minister’s threat to ban the dole for under-25s will simply push hundreds of thousands of young people, including those with young families, even deeper into poverty.
“Young people suffered most in the recession. The Prime Minister has pledged that they will suffer most during the recovery too.”
Recent research from Comres showed that 88% of young people want to work or study.
However two-fifths (40%) said they did not feel they were part of society.
The Comres poll catalogued widespread problems of depression and lack of confidence among 16-24 year olds, but also found that more than 70% believed they would contribute a lot to society if they got the right support.
Analysts said a new approach to tackling lack of jobs and adequate training is required at both national and local level.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “We must move beyond glib and superficial analysis of youth unemployment and its causes if we are to give the next generation a real chance in life.
“Educational underachievement costs the UK economy an estimated £22bn a year. We will not resolve this massive problem by forcing young people into unstable, low paying employment or inadequate training.
“Cheap headlines about lazy youngsters or cutting their benefits are no substitute for a strategy which is on the side of young people and allows them to realise their potential.”
Other critics point to a recent sharp increase in the number of 16 to 24-year olds out of work as showing the economy is failing to provide jobs for school and college leavers.
General secretary of the ATL Mary Bousted said: “We are in total agreement with the government that every under-25 should be earning or learning.
“But where is the evidence the million young people currently out of work are not desperate to find a job and get on in life and are instead opting for a life on the dole? And where is the financial support for disadvantaged young people to enable them to stay in education or training?
“The government assumes young people always have a family who can support them which is not true, particularly in this economic climate.
“The fall in the number of young people aged 17–19 who are taking part in, or considering learning, is particularly worrying. The government needs to provide good quality vocational training and permanent jobs, not low-paid, temporary work or zero hours contracts.”
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