Sad, very sad

At the end of June, 2.43 million people were unemployed, an increase of 220,000 over the three months, and the highest total since 1995.

What in someways is even more worrying is that the number of NEETS, 16-24 year-olds, reached 928,000, and they now constitute 38% of all unemployed.

They are among the cheapest workers to employ, and are in theory more flexible and energetic, even if they lack experience, yet the are losing jobs.

NEETs presented a worrying number even before the recession, and a sad illustration of the quality of our education system and qualifications. Then, and even more now, they present a potential massive future problem.

Many are unskilled, and will find it difficult to secure well-paid jobs when recovery does begin. Many will will be long-term benefit recipients, and many will drift into crime. There will be a social cost for some time to come. There will be a a large personal cost to them. As I blogged recently they face a massive risk of drifting into drugs and alcohol and encountering an early death.

Sadly, they have been neglected, despite all the rhetoric, and they and others still at school will be a major problem facing the next government.