MORE, BETTER-PAID JOBS ARE STILL DESPERATELY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG
Despite a rise in employment, there is deep concern that wage growth is still too low – and more, better-paid jobs are essential if young workers are to feel the benefits of the economic recovery.
Unemployment levels fell between April and June 2014 – and demand for Jobseekers Allowance decreased for the 21st month running. But average pay has increased by only 0.6% in the past 12 months. Against an inflation (cost of living) rate of 1.9%, many people in work will feel poorer than they did this time last year. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady warned:
“The combination of rising employment and falling pay growth suggest the economy is good at creating low-paid jobs but struggling to create the better-paid work we need for a fair, sustainable recovery.”
Graduate Fog is concerned that many of these new, low-paid jobs are being given to young people – in the form of shop jobs, bar work, or call centre shifts. While you could say “Well, that’s better than them having no work,” we are concerned that it could distort the true picture of how well graduates and other young workers are coping in today’s job market. It is also well-known that a low starting salary can depress an individual’s earnings for the rest of their career. After all, when you start on minimum wage, it’s a slow climb even to the £21,000 mark, at which you have to start repaying your student loan…
*DO GRADUATES NEED MORE, BETTER-PAID JOBS?
If you’re in work, how much are you earning – and can you live on it, without help from your parents or benefits? If you’re a jobseeker, would you rather have low-paid work than no work at all? Or are you holding out for a job that pays a salary better matched to your skills and qualifications? Share your views below…
Cheap labour…..educated a bonus.
In my case true, either live in the north west, few jobs or low salary, or live in London, slightly more salary, but stupidly high rent or buying property costs.
I took the latter option
The problem lies with the cost of living, not so much with employers ripping off their staff. This government and the last one have borrowed so much cash (and are still doing so) that it is now over to us to repay it through taxes, and paying for public services that the government can no longer afford. This mess has been caused by tony blair, gordon brown, david cameron, george osbourne et al, not CEOs.
As for me I graduated in 2010 from a poorly ranked uni with a humanities degree. I live in the north west and bought a house earlier this year off my own back. It’s still possible to have a life if you work hard.
As Silverbullet says its the cost of living. I didn’t so much expect to earn more but I definitely expected my pay packet to go further.
I couldn’t live on what I earn if I had to pay private rent. It never occurred to me that I could end up working full time and still being unable to pay my own way and I remember being pretty horrified when I saw the cost of renting compared with monthly take home pay.
I guess from a mental health point of view it is better to be in work than unemployed. In terms of being able to start an independent adult life I don’t think you are any better off in low paid work than no work at all if you live in the South East.
@ Catherine. Not only the cost of living but unaffordable rents. Inflation is down? Bullshit! RPI should include transport costs and Housing to truly reflect the cost of living. MPs do not care, most are Buy-to-Let Landlords. It’s sickening. That’s Thatcher’s legacy. When will people revolt?
I have been seeking a graduate role since 2014. I have been recruited by sales recruiters and some head hunters and got two short term jobs but to no avail. it is soul-sucking!
I never got any internships as I have worked full time during uni (retail), therefore my work experience was considered IRRELEVANT (lol).
It is a living nightmare and I’m so sorry I went to Uni in the first place!
My half-arsed degree accounted for nothing as I am now in the exact same spot I was 4 years ago.