Who are the unemployed? Flashcards
Social Class
The unskilled working class are the most likely to experience unemployment. Although globalisation has brought about an expansion of low wage jobs, these jobs were often temporary in nature and unskilled. This means that the poor working class lack transferable skills and this leaves them with a poor labour market situation.
The unskilled working class, who live in older industrial areas that have experienced economic decline in recent years, are particularly vulnerable to unemployment. Moreover, it is argued by
Murray that an underclass exists who are resistant to all attempts to engage them in the labour market. They are a subculture, with different norms and values to the rest of society, and they refuse to take up opportunities for jobs and training
Age
6-24 age group was the worst affected by the recession in 2012. Even today, the jobless rate for this age group is double the jobless rate for the UK as a whole.
Young people often have a skills mismatch in that there are millions of young people out of school and ready to work, but businesses needs skills these young people do not possess. Young people end up experiencing a difficult school-to-work transition, and businesses are unable to find suitable candidates for their positions.
Similarly, young people who have degrees find themselves overqualified for their jobs, and many young people are also underemployed, meaning they work fewer hours than they would prefer. There is an economic as well as a personal cost here: young people are not being allowed to work to their full potential
Ethnicity
ethnic minorities suffer from higher rates of unemployment. In 2016 the unemployment rate was 5% for white people compared to 9% for people from a BAME although the rate varied between different ethnic minority groups.
Cultural barriers such as language skills; in a service based economy English language speaking, is a high priority. Some ethnic minority women may face religious barriers such as believing women should not enter a work environment with men; they may have restrictions over dress, such as having to wear the full face veil in public.
Lower Educational qualifications. Reports show that Black Caribbean students have lower A Level grades and are less likely to go to university. However, educational standards vary significantly amongst ethnic minorities. For example, Chinese and Indian students quite often surpass white students.
Discrimination. In practice racial discrimination is outlawed, but it can be difficult to enforce. A TUC Report highlighted discrimination towards job candidates from ethnic minority communities. Research showed how people from ethnic minority groups completed more job applications than white job seekers but failed to get as many interviews.
