The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > The problem of youth unemployment > Comments

The problem of youth unemployment : Comments

By Fiona Heinrichs, published 5/4/2012

The young face the highest unemployment rate with 18.5 percent of the 18 – 24 year old workforce unemployed.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. All
There should be more emphasis on the quality of life statistics that have declined so markedly in the last decade: suicide, depression and the sheer cynicism of the media. (they aren't fooling everyone!)
With the internet and the emphasis on "training, training, training" we have a more educated and aware youth than ever before...but they are denied housing, career (part-time menial work is anti-career) and are expected to just accept the corruption.
We have regressive economics that rewards financial middle-men and entrenched corporations at the expense of the workforce and the nation as a whole. Real wages drop while housing inflation sucks the life out of the younger workers. I still can't believe that a credit driven "get rich quick" scam that is housing inflation is still seen as a such a good thing! Every million dollars made by not working has to be worked for by someone else! The economy is not limitless. Access to cheap housing and cheap finance is not available to the youth, so it amounts to generational theft.
Folks around 40 are the first generation to see a decline in lifestyle for a good half century. Single parent families, affordable housing, career potential...all became very scarce because of the change from progressive to regressive...from being a young, confident freedom loving society to being a cynical, "conservative" nanny state that mistakes wealthy old folk with wealth generation.
There needs to be an expose of the real statistical evidence out there that points to real issues of inequality and grossly unfair policy.
Posted by Ozandy, Thursday, 5 April 2012 10:51:15 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Quote from a friend: "Starting work life during the "recession we had to have" was a bit like having the rug pulled out from under you...well the rug hasn't stopped! It's more like a conveyor belt that accelerates as we get older."
From HECS to Superannuation (most stolen in fees in early years), to private insurance welfare, to housing bubble to the recent Howard's culture wars...some of us feel that we have been pretty much marginalised our whole lives. Those that waited to be in a stable home before kids...didn't have kids (but the bogan bonus got the "right" people breeding didn't it?)
I hear the scoffing already...but look at the stats folks...there is reality behind the perception behind the winge.
BTW. There was almost an honest moment from a politician the other day about prohibition. She admitted there was a "high threshold" to get such an obvious change through...a tacit admission that a 20 billion dollar black market *won't allow* good public policy that kills it's market. Big black business is just as powerful as big "legit" business.
Posted by Ozandy, Thursday, 5 April 2012 11:08:57 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Excellent but worrying article. Long gone are the days when you left school, maybe went to university, worked for a couple of years, travelled and came home to get married and buy a house in your mid-twenties and had a couple of kids by the time you were thirty. HECS and housing seems to be the killers and the latter is very much a function of rapid population growth. Stop the excess demand for housing from ever-growing numbers and it might become affordable. The European figures for youth unemployment are horrific. Let's hope it doesn't get that bad here.
Posted by popnperish, Thursday, 5 April 2012 12:53:53 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Maybe if a few more got off their bums, left Byron Bay and moved West they would find untold opportunities. Untrained, unskilled and uneducated Kiwis are earning 130000 a year driving trucks! Who are the smart ones?
Posted by runner, Thursday, 5 April 2012 1:21:05 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Yes the young will in all likelihood; be the first generation to be worse off than their parents.
Why, well blame Howard and billions shelled out as welfare for the rich? Blame visionless and patently corrupt state govts; all but welded to stamp duties and the ever cascading Granny killing GST; and the limited rezoning of urban land; and a negligible infrastructure roll out, leaving us with a shortfall, of around 80 billions?
All very affordable; if only the Howard hadn't handed back the proceeds of the first mining boom; to folks, who simply didn't need it.
Germany is the only European economy; that had the sound common sense; to keep its manufacturing economy, by investing in innovation. We on the other hand; listened to the elitist, know it all dilettantes, who seem apparently think that the mining boom; that currently keeps our economy from another Great Depression, will last indefinitely?
Think, when we were an economy that still made things, we were the third wealthiest in the world and a creditor nation to boot. Moreover, we had quite massive apprenticeship schemes in govt owned and run workshops and youth unemployment was almost unheard of?
One wage earning bread winner, was able to afford a house, a reliable car, annual family holidays, and feed, clothe, house and educate four children.
Yes, life was pretty basic; but, things were built to last; and our money was pegged to the gold standard, which made inflation all most impossible!
Consequently house prices remained virtually the same for decades?
Instead of the needed decentralisation, we concentrated on making our capital cities so large; that traffic is almost permanently gridlocked? Why, well house prices and or rents are always/always higher in larger cities; and, the larger they become so do house prices, rents and the stamp duties, most state govts collect!
Those fees and charges; they were supposed to forgo, in return for the ever growing revenue surety of Howard's, still hated GST?
If it wasn't broken, why did they have to fix it? Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Thursday, 5 April 2012 2:24:58 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Go west young people, As an employer in IT and Engineering in the Mining sector, just about all of the people applying for the jobs we are advertising is are from overseas. Too much of our youth will not live anywhere other then the inner city subs hunging the east coast. the youth need to move to where the jobs are not expect the jobs to come to them.

BTW popnperish the number peopl living the lifstyle you outlayed was always small.
Posted by cornonacob, Thursday, 5 April 2012 2:37:50 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Sad to say some of these 'job-seekers' are hardly worth employing. Many have a false sense of entitlement and poor work ethic. Some wake up to themselves after a good jolt or two but others just don't get it. Too many seem to have been raised & educated with scant regard to manners and responsibility and with unrealistic sense of achievement.

Is this immaturity? To some point I'd say yes, but 10 years ago the young employee asked to take out the rubbish would not protest he/she didn't like that task and why couldn't someone else do it?

Recently my 31 yr old daughter who is a manager lamented along similar lines and commented, "I believe mine was the last generation to have a work ethic!"

Not saying all young people are like this - only a disconcertingly significant and growing (or so it seems) minority.

I think it's about time parents and schools hardened up a bit and turned out a product with a little less sense of "ME"
Posted by divine_msn, Thursday, 5 April 2012 4:26:14 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Youth unemployment stems from coming into the workforce to late.
Why does everyone have to be schooled till they are 18 or more.
Trades should start at 15 or 16, and not be an adult to start an apprenticeship.
Family groups have fallen apart, and their kids, don't know how to handle that.
The mining boom is promoting unemployment. QLD and WA are the states with the highest youth unemployment.
Mining is in overdrive, and like any other economy, to quick a growth, is not good.
Posted by 579, Thursday, 5 April 2012 5:15:57 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
579

'The mining boom is promoting unemployment. QLD and WA are the states with the highest youth unemployment.'

do you ever read the drivel you write.
Posted by runner, Thursday, 5 April 2012 5:40:37 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
19th birthday start national Service, 21st birthday finish national Service.
End result, youth unemployment to almost zero. Discipline is up, a vast improvement in our society. Young adults will have some direction & less of a burden on the rest.
Posted by individual, Thursday, 5 April 2012 10:04:45 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Just like in my last online engagement, the youth are seeing the point of our volumes. The greed of our human development is now biting the very cause of our donkey/carrot simplicities that made the world in pushing the cash in front of sensibility thinkings.

More people in the world don't mean a greater future....and at 7 billion, I think the capitalist have something to answer to.

The/we..have nothing to worry about....why?.....cause we are not in charge....they are:)......just sit back and wait....there the adults.

Smile
Posted by planet 3, Thursday, 5 April 2012 11:16:24 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Yes! you all have a point about a small peace of the puzzle, who is looking at the big picture, yes you can move west, big bucks to be made, i know i,ve seen it, i happen to be fine with out it, i for one look on a lateral basis, you can always get what you want if you are prepared to work for it, people say i can't do that. Well bull, your brain is a muscle and it depends if you want to be a fatty or a fitness finatic. i wonce had sufficient funds and got devorced and had to start over. your knowledge never goes away so you pick yourself up & start over. Remember the principle of life, you work, you get collateral, you swap collateral for what you need, you work some more and you get more of what you need. Thats life, call it barter, economics or just plain life. the trouble is a lot of the now generation do not want to get started. they think mum & dad should give it to you. Well get a life and stop distroying theirs. todays politics are wimps & are too scared to make a real difference. todays population are scared of change & we crusify any party the makes change wether good or bad. so give it time we are slowly distroying the country. and why you blood suckers continue to exploit and steal from your family and friends, eventually you will not have anything to exploit and the have not's will take it back, only not in a nice way
Posted by wanderer-001, Friday, 6 April 2012 1:53:17 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
yes you can move west, big bucks to be made,
wanderer-001,
That scenario is part of the downgrading of morale & the upgrading of the me me mentality.
These jobs offer short-term opportunities for those who simply have no other desire than making good money. The outcome of this is instant rise in property values, increased rates, increased demands & increased misery for those who are not addicted to the money decease & who simply want to live a hassle-free live.
As the old saying goes, for one to win another has to lose. There simply can't be two winners.
The losers are the decent folk not afflicted by the money decease.
It's always outside interests who twist the arms of two or three individuals by waving the money carrot. The other 97% in the community get steamrolled. The quick money decease affects everyone, from the proponents to the opponents. Society is the #1 loser.
Posted by individual, Friday, 6 April 2012 10:03:00 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The underlying problem is the fractional reserve system of banking.In 1976 our total debt was 3% of GDP.By 2008 it was 53% of GDP.All our new money for inflation + increases in productivity is created as debt when it fact should be created as a tax credit by our Govts.

The other problems are the purposeful destruction of manufacturing and over regulation and taxation by Govt.

http://www.secretofoz.com
Bill Still has made it freely available on youtube.This DVD by Bill Still has won many awards for best documentary.It reveals the true meaning behind The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum.Dorothy in the Book wore silver slippers, not the ruby ones worn by Judy Garland in the movie.It was all about the crime of 1873 when the elites removed all the silver money from our economies and replaced it with their gold.The money supply was reduced by 80% and they created the great depression of the 1890's.The yellow brick road represented the gold of the elites which enslaved them.The Tin Woodman the factory worker,the Scarecrow the farmer and the wicked witches of the east and west were JP Morgan and Rockefeller,the two major banking interests of that time.

L Frank Baum was trying to warn us about letting private banks owning our productivity by creating from nothing all the money to equal it.This is the major reason why there is so much unemployment and poverty on all our planet.
Posted by Arjay, Saturday, 7 April 2012 2:28:02 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Leaving aside for a moment the fairy stories about yellow brick roads and wicked witches, Arjay, let's take another look at your figures.

>>In 1976 our total debt was 3% of GDP.By 2008 it was 53% of GDP.<<

In 1976 our GDP was a shade over $300 billion. Today it is closing in on $1.6 trillion. So even if you consider, as you appear to, that our country's wealth is somehow the net of its GDP minus its debt, we are still well ahead of the game, wouldn't you say?

No, of course you wouldn't. But I'd like to hear your explanation anyway...

Over to you.
Posted by Pericles, Saturday, 7 April 2012 4:14:04 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Our population of 1976 was half that of the present and we didn't have all the taxes to we have now to service debt.The only thing that has saved us was the mining boom.

Our economy is now with computers and robotics many times more productive than 1976.We also have the cheap products from China but still with over inflated house prices and longer working hours our real living standards continue to decline.You cannot deny that reality.The restriction of the money supply by the Central Banks have created all the Great Depressions.When they crash our economies they then cause hype-inflation by creating too much money.Presently their counterfeiting money is tied up in credit default swaps which they use to attack countries like Greece and Italy.When the deivative market collapses,then hyper-inflation will follow.

Pericles,you have to consider all the variables when assessing changes.The Fairy Tale has been used by people throughout history to portray meaning.L Frank Baum was a lot more perceptive and creative than you or I.
Posted by Arjay, Saturday, 7 April 2012 6:12:25 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Every government job comes at the expense of three other jobs in the real economy.

It is the youth who suffer most from this in-escapable fact.
Posted by partTimeParent, Sunday, 8 April 2012 9:56:26 AM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Exactly, Arjay.

>>Our population of 1976 was half that of the present and we didn't have all the taxes to we have now to service debt.<<

Now we do. Hence, the debt is more serviceable than it used to be.

>>The only thing that has saved us was the mining boom.<<

Are you aware of the amount of borrowing that was necessary in order to create this "mining boom"? It simply would not have occurred if the credit facilities - billions of dollars - had not been available.

But the point I was making was simply on the volume of GDP dollars that exceed our debt. Which surplus only came into being courtesy of the volume of credit that was advanced to the businesses creating that GDP. Such as - you guessed it - the miners.

>>Pericles,you have to consider all the variables when assessing changes.<<

Couldn't have put it better myself, Arjay.
Posted by Pericles, Monday, 9 April 2012 5:21:43 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Pericles,Miners don't have to borrow from banks much if they are making enormous profits.They simply re-invest their profits back into the system.

Private banks produce nothing of tangible worth unlike miners or manufacturers,so why should they have the sole priviledge of money creation? That money they create belongs to miners,and workers alike.

China has many Govt banks that create 80% of their new currency.It is a far less efficient system than ours with many debt defaults but unlike ours does not suck the lifeblood of incentive to work hard and prosper.China's growth is still 6-8% while the West in reality is negative.

It is the debt based banking system that is sucking the life blood out of our creativity and endeavour.
Posted by Arjay, Monday, 9 April 2012 9:56:57 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
You are kidding yourself, Arjay, on two fronts.

>>Pericles,Miners don't have to borrow from banks much if they are making enormous profits.They simply re-invest their profits back into the system.<<

First up, they do not make a single buck until after they sink a load of money into the venture. So every miner that ever there was started with borrowed money.

And for seconds, every new mine is dug on borrowed money. Every week you will see another example of this - why do you think Gina Reinhart was so worried about the stories in the papers recently? Because it would spook the banks who were about to lend her another billion or so to develop a new mine.

Case in Point: BHP Billiton's current borrowings are in the region of $25 billion.

http://www.bhpbilliton.com/home/investors/Documents/Debt%20Investors/BHP%20Billiton%20Credit%20Summary_March%202012.pdf

>>Private banks produce nothing of tangible worth unlike miners or manufacturers,so why should they have the sole priviledge of money creation? That money they create belongs to miners,and workers alike<<

They only "create" it because you ask for it, Arjay. The loan to you then goes into their accounts as an asset, with an offsetting liability of the money that they, in turn, have borrowed. They are, as you know, limited in the amount they can lend by the reserves they are required, by law, to maintain. If they have reached this limit, then they cannot lend to you.

>>China has many Govt banks that create 80% of their new currency.<<

Until very recently, the figure was 100%. Why did they decide to open up the system - albeit only a little - and allow non-government Banks to operate in this space, do you think?

If you can work that out, then you will understand a great deal more about banking and finance than you do right now.
Posted by Pericles, Monday, 9 April 2012 10:24:48 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy