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A report published on 8 February 2010 by the Prince’s Trust and Citi Foundation suggests that thousands of future nurses, teachers and plumbers could be lost if Britain fails to help unemployed young people into work.
As one of the largest UK studies of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), the findings suggest that the country could miss out on 19,500 doctors and nurses, 62,000 teachers and 1,500 plumbers, if young people are unable to fulfil their career aspirations.
Youth unemployment already costs the state £3.5m each day in Jobseekers’ Allowance. Based on interviews with 1,046 16-24-year-old NEETs, the research finds that while the majority want to work, the daily struggles youngsters face make it harder to find a job.
The report claims that two-fifths (40%) of NEETs do not have enough money to buy smart clothes for job interviews. More than a quarter (27%) fear they’ll get into so much debt that they’ll lose everything, while 57% worry they will never be able to afford their own home.