Partner Article

?Lost generation? will have to learn business lessons fast

An unsettling 74% of people in the North East say the government needs to give more support so graduates can secure their first jobs, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

PwC, a leading professional service firm, surveyed more than 2000 adults during August and found on average 43% of 18-34 year olds believe government, schools and employers are all not doing enough to help freshly graduated people get on the job ladder.

The North East and South East were the most disgruntled areas with two thirds of people wanting more action, and with national unemployment at the highest rate since 1995, PwC believes it is time for an attitude change.

“The future economic prosperity is in the hands of this generation, so rather than blame each other for how we got here, we need to look ahead and work out how to minimize the long-term effects” said Cathy Little, the North East student hire leader for PwC.

She added: “It will not be a quick fix, but if we get it right, we could have a generation that has learned some of the hardest business lessons quicker and more effectively than many of the generations in full-time employment.”

Recent figures show more than one in six young people, between 18 and 24, are out of work, being called a “lost generation” because of the 14-year unemployment high.

Ms Little continued: “With the statistics of youth unemployment today, it’s all too easy to point the finger of blame. The reality is there is not one, quick fix.

“The only way we can secure the long-term skills of this generation is to get students, employers and government agencies working together.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .