UK unemployment hits 14-year high.

[Flynny]

And like I said, unemployment rates and the publication thereof always lag behind the current economic trend by months.

Do I have to repeat myself a second time?

That's true, but I thought unemployment peaked after economic decline and began to pick up again after and as a result of positive growth, not similtaneously. In which case we'd be seeing peak unemployed between now and the end of the year.

[Thracian]

I like the sensation, but I find your comparison a little bit far-fetched and ill-constructed.

You tell me what theme parks and the current economic climate have in common.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Btw, I'm currently unemployed myself, so I guess that should finally kick-start my drinking career and I ought to consider becoming a burglar because my future's so bleak. Right.

And like I said, unemployment rates and the publication thereof always lag behind the current economic trend by months.

Do I have to repeat myself a second time?

Theme parks provide jobs when they're built, jobs when they open, more jobs when they expand and a blessed time of fun and enjoyment for families when times are tough.

And yes, people in a pickle will always find a way to enjoy a good day out - day trips to Skeggy were and still are a highlight for so many of our society's less well off.

It's a statement if you like an antidote to the daily drudge.

I know nothing about your circumstances and cannot quote up-to-date statistics on burglary but it's widely felt that the problem increases the worse off people become.

And several recent jewellery robberies (of retailers) only emphasise the trend and the sort of target people are looking for - easily handled items that can be instantly converted to cash.

Whther the figures lag or not it has long been established that unemployment is expected to rise above 3 million, and some say considerably more.

That view, quoted at the beginning of this year has been emphasised and confirmed this week so there's really no need to repeat yourself not least because I heard you in the first place.

Good luck in your hunt for a job - or your debut (prsumably) as a burglar!

[Thracian]

It doesnt matter about you being unemployed apparently as youre not part of the "indigenous population" or a "Brit"

Thats a point youre a foreigner so you must be a criminal anyway

That this country continues to leave it ports-of-entry doors open while leaving 2.5 million residents unemployed is a disgrace and a potential social disaster however glibly you try to mock.

I don't know where the association with criminal and foreigner comes in but I do know that the levels of despair and the feeling of hopelessness, particularly among the young and over 45's, is growing stronger by the day as the search for jobs runs from weeks into months.

And lately it is not even the long-victimised white Brits who've been complaining most, it's the Indians who've been here 15-25 years already and are now themselves finding it difficult or impossible to find an alternative to the job that they've lost.

Every one of those I've spoken to wants immigration halted or seriously restricted!.

[Guest]

That this country continues to leave it ports-of-entry doors open while leaving 2.5 million residents unemployed is a disgrace and a potential social disaster however glibly you try to mock.

Every one of those I've spoken to wants immigration halted or seriously restricted!.

We don't and it is.

[Daggers]

[Matt]

[ob1kanobe0]

We don't and it is.

Who's we?

[Thracian]

We don't and it is.

You keep doing that and you'll get a headache!

[Daggers]

Unemployment benefit was meant to be a subsistence-only thing and yet the unemployed seem to be able to go out drinking, smoking and buying tickets to see Citeh home and away.

And then they bitch about immigrants?

[lou]

Unemployment benefit was meant to be a subsistence-only thing and yet the unemployed seem to be able to go out drinking, smoking and buying tickets to see Citeh home and away.

And then they bitch about immigrants?

Im personally always surprised at the amount of people on the "poor" council estates who have 2/3 cars on the driveways... usually Imprezzas and BMWs.

[Tabou]

Unemployment may peak at 3 million.

There are 60 million citizens in the UK.

Let's say, for arguments sake, that half of the population work (so not children or OAP's).

That means that for 30 million people of working age, 3 million will be unemployed. That's 1 in 10.

On a larger scale, that's 10 in 100 people. Now look at any sample group of 100 people, 3 of them will be unemployable anyway (for various reasons). I have to say, that if 3 million people will be unemployed at the peak, or 1 in 10, that really isn't that bad.

Simples.

[Jon the Hat]

Unemployment benefit was meant to be a subsistence-only thing and yet the unemployed seem to be able to go out drinking, smoking and buying tickets to see Citeh home and away.

And then they bitch about immigrants?

There has to be something around this.. Not sure how, but if people are able to have Sky TV, a car, smoke and drink then they are being given too much.

[James.]

Who's we?

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[Thracian]

Unemployment may peak at 3 million.

There are 60 million citizens in the UK.

Let's say, for arguments sake, that half of the population work (so not children or OAP's).

That means that for 30 million people of working age, 3 million will be unemployed. That's 1 in 10.

On a larger scale, that's 10 in 100 people. Now look at any sample group of 100 people, 3 of them will be unemployable anyway (for various reasons). I have to say, that if 3 million people will be unemployed at the peak, or 1 in 10, that really isn't that bad.

Simples.

Which three would be unemployable? You can't discriminate against women, the disabled, ethnic minorities nor anyone else except white 16-60 year olds so presumably it would be them.

As for 1 in 10 unemployed being "not bad" I can promise you it's appalling if you're one of the odd ones out and assure you that if I proposed we should execute one in 10 prisoners as a deterrent to others or birch 1 in 10 burglars, there might be cheers from a few but there would be uproar from the lefties and the human rights advocates.

One in 10 is a huge number. The mind boggles at the reaction if one in 10 were denied access to a doctor, dentist, petrol for their car, food, a roof over their head or most anything else that a civilised society has to offer.

Yet for many unemployed some of those things become reality.

.

[Matt]

There has to be something around this.. Not sure how, but if people are able to have Sky TV, a car, smoke and drink then they are being given too much.

Or perhaps they have savings that they have worked hard for and got made redundant and are claiming jobseekers allowance because it means you don't miss payments into your state pension, and it's just a little extra to add abit of income.

Of course if you have savings of 'x' amount your JSA Claim gets cut, reduced and in some cases your not even allowed to claim JSA if you have savings, something which I think is pathetic, If you have worked since the day you left school and have saved, you have done exactly that - You have worked, You have paid your taxes, and claiming JSA when redundancy or such thing happens is your way of getting a little back, savings are exactly that savings, something you have or are saving for - Why should you have to touch them and suffer without JSA just because you have worked? You're being punished for working?!

Fair enough savings are as I said for something you are saving for or just saving for the future but people may be using this to pay for their luxury's such as SKY TV, Car, Smoke Drink, and JSA acts as a bonus of an little income.

I'm not at the moment as I have a temporary job but the only reason I was claiming JSA is because as I said earlier in this thread it pays into your state pension and when you come to retire (Although the retirement age seems to be talked about getting older and older - Most will probably be dead by the time they reach retirement age ) your not left with weeks missing of the payment resulting in loss of money on your state pension, I get 50 quid a week when claiming JSA better than nothing don't get me wrong, but hardly worth it tbh.

[lou]

Or perhaps they have savings that they have worked hard for and got made redundant and are claiming jobseekers allowance because it means you don't miss payments into your state pension, and it's just a little extra to add abit of income.

Of course if you have savings of 'x' amount your JSA Claim gets cut, reduced and in some cases your not even allowed to claim JSA if you have savings, something which I think is pathetic, If you have worked since the day you left school and have saved, you have done exactly that - You have worked, You have paid your taxes, and claiming JSA when redundancy or such thing happens is your way of getting a little back, savings are exactly that savings, something you have or are saving for - Why should you have to touch them and suffer without JSA just because you have worked? You're being punished for working?!

Fair enough savings are as I said for something you are saving for or just saving for the future but people may be using this to pay for their luxury's such as SKY TV, Car, Smoke Drink, and JSA acts as a bonus of an little income.

I'm not at the moment as I have a temporary job but the only reason I was claiming JSA is because as I said earlier in this thread it pays into your state pension and when you come to retire (Although the retirement age seems to be talked about getting older and older - Most will probably be dead by the time they reach retirement age ) your not left with weeks missing of the payment resulting in loss of money on your state pension, I get 50 quid a week when claiming JSA better than nothing don't get me wrong, but hardly worth it tbh.

Ive nothing against anyone claiming JSA who has tried to find a job and appreciate that there are plenty of people who have lost their jobs by no fault of their own. There are a lot out there who have absolutely no intention of getting off their fat backsides and are more than happy to sponge off the state too though, but its old ground.

I sincerely sympathise with those who are being made reduntant and face the very real possibility of that happening to me too....

I object to some people on here apparently having the view that if your Black that youre being thrown job opportunities as that is total bollocks. My Son looked for work for 12 months after leaving school and got his job through sheer hard work and determination. He literally pestered the MD of his company to see him and give him a chance even thought they werent looking to hire an Apprentice at that stage.. he wouldnt take his calls so he posted him a CV and letter instead. The guy invited him to an interview at 8am the next morning and admitted to my lad that hed been testing him as he didnt expect him to turn up at such short notice and at that time of day. He did, 15 mins early, with a suit and tie and new shoes etc and was offered an Apprenticeship within 10 mins. No ones done him any favours.

[Webbo]

Or perhaps they have savings that they have worked hard for and got made redundant and are claiming jobseekers allowance because it means you don't miss payments into your state pension, and it's just a little extra to add abit of income.

Of course if you have savings of 'x' amount your JSA Claim gets cut, reduced and in some cases your not even allowed to claim JSA if you have savings, something which I think is pathetic, If you have worked since the day you left school and have saved, you have done exactly that - You have worked, You have paid your taxes, and claiming JSA when redundancy or such thing happens is your way of getting a little back, savings are exactly that savings, something you have or are saving for - Why should you have to touch them and suffer without JSA just because you have worked? You're being punished for working?!

Fair enough savings are as I said for something you are saving for or just saving for the future but people may be using this to pay for their luxury's such as SKY TV, Car, Smoke Drink, and JSA acts as a bonus of an little income.

I'm not at the moment as I have a temporary job but the only reason I was claiming JSA is because as I said earlier in this thread it pays into your state pension and when you come to retire (Although the retirement age seems to be talked about getting older and older - Most will probably be dead by the time they reach retirement age ) your not left with weeks missing of the payment resulting in loss of money on your state pension, I get 50 quid a week when claiming JSA better than nothing don't get me wrong, but hardly worth it tbh.

I don't think anyone was having a go at you Matt or people like you who have worked/want to work. Just people who have never worked and don't intend to either.

[Daggers]

I pass the same four houses everyday on the way to take the dog to the park. Everyday the same scum is sitting around on the walls outside. Empty tins in the front garden, tins being emptied in hand while the feral brats run across the road causing car after car to emergency brake.

They don't work, they've not worked since we moved here in 2005.

They smoke and drink though, and eat their fast food.

Everyday.

It's not right. It's because they now get child tax benefit on top of child support and the dole - they're (relatively) rolling in it now. No incentive to work, no incentive to do anything but get onto Jeremy Kyle now and then and have that free night in a hotel.

They'd probably bitch about immigrants, or gays, or cabbage white moths taking all the jobs.

It's bullshit though - they're just lazy and ignorant and cosseted.

[Matt]

Ive nothing against anyone claiming JSA who has tried to find a job and appreciate that there are plenty of people who have lost their jobs by no fault of their own. There are a lot out there who have absolutely no intention of getting off their fat backsides and are more than happy to sponge off the state too though, but its old ground.

I sincerely sympathise with those who are being made reduntant and face the very real possibility of that happening to me too....

I object to some people on here apparently having the view that if your Black that youre being thrown job opportunities as that is total bollocks. My Son looked for work for 12 months after leaving school and got his job through sheer hard work and determination. He literally pestered the MD of his company to see him and give him a chance even thought they werent looking to hire an Apprentice at that stage.. he wouldnt take his calls so he posted him a CV and letter instead. The guy invited him to an interview at 8am the next morning and admitted to my lad that hed been testing him as he didnt expect him to turn up at such short notice and at that time of day. He did, 15 mins early, with a suit and tie and new shoes etc and was offered an Apprenticeship within 10 mins. No ones done him any favours.

I don't think anyone was having a go at you Matt or people like you who have worked/want to work. Just people who have never worked and don't intend to either.

Yeah I know. Just don't like being tarred by the same brush as the dossers who do claim JSA, although I myself have been prejudice to people claiming JSA prior to claiming it.

And Lou, I know and don't imagine Black people or foreign people have job opportunities thrown at them, Although I do believe Foreign workers (And I do see it from the employers point of view - Foreign workers are cheaper, fact.) have advantage over English people when it comes to job opportunities, They work for a lower rate of pay, because back home it's actually a fairly decent wage, also in my experience they get put up in houses by the employers so don't have the bills, e.t.c to pay like English people do thus they can afford to work for the lower wage, something an English person living here couldn't afford to do on the wage of a foreign worker, and even if they could afford to live on the lower rate of pay, get yourself a child, girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband, and a house (Prior to claiming) and you are actually better of claiming JSA, Fact.

(A lad who was made redundant with me just had a child, had a missus and a house, and he is actually slightly better off than when he was working - And there is no childcare bills as he looks after the baby - It's wrong, He should really find work but what incentive is there to work, if that's the case? )

Anyway as I said when I posted this, I didn't want it to go this way (Foreign v English) even though I knew it would.

[lou]

Yeah I know. Just don't like being tarred by the same brush as the dossers who do claim JSA, although I myself have been prejudice to people claiming JSA prior to claiming it.

And Lou, I know and don't imagine Black people or foreign people have job opportunities thrown at them, Although I do believe Foreign workers (And I do see it from the employers point of view - Foreign workers are cheaper, fact.) have advantage over English people when it comes to job opportunities, They work for a lower rate of pay, because back home it's actually a fairly decent wage, also in my experience they get put up in houses by the employers so don't have the bills, e.t.c to pay like English people do thus they can afford to work for the lower wage, something an English person living here couldn't afford to do on the wage of a foreign worker, and even if they could afford to live on the lower rate of pay, get yourself a child, girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband, and a house (Prior to claiming) and you are actually better of claiming JSA, Fact.

(A lad who was made redundant with me just had a child, had a missus and a house, and he is actually slightly better off than when he was working - And there is no childcare bills as he looks after the baby - It's wrong, He should really find work but what incentive is there to work, if that's the case? )

Anyway as I said when I posted this, I didn't want it to go this way (Foreign v English) even though I knew it would.

I know you dont.. that wasnt directed at you

[Katy]

Ive nothing against anyone claiming JSA who has tried to find a job and appreciate that there are plenty of people who have lost their jobs by no fault of their own. There are a lot out there who have absolutely no intention of getting off their fat backsides and are more than happy to sponge off the state too though, but its old ground.

I sincerely sympathise with those who are being made reduntant and face the very real possibility of that happening to me too....

I object to some people on here apparently having the view that if your Black that youre being thrown job opportunities as that is total bollocks. My Son looked for work for 12 months after leaving school and got his job through sheer hard work and determination. He literally pestered the MD of his company to see him and give him a chance even thought they werent looking to hire an Apprentice at that stage.. he wouldnt take his calls so he posted him a CV and letter instead. The guy invited him to an interview at 8am the next morning and admitted to my lad that hed been testing him as he didnt expect him to turn up at such short notice and at that time of day. He did, 15 mins early, with a suit and tie and new shoes etc and was offered an Apprenticeship within 10 mins. No ones done him any favours.

Your son is a credit to you Lou

[Matt]

I know you dont.. that wasnt directed at you

Yeah I know, I didn't mean to sound as if I was getting back at you just making the point.

Congrats to your son by the way, Badgering away is the only way to do it at the moment, a company I was told wanted to interview me weeks ago never contacted me back i've called them back a few times and its a new company opening but they just keep getting pushed back and pushed back as to when they are opening but "I'm next on the list to be interview" is the comment i've had everytime i've called, i'm in no rush as I have a temp job at the mo, but i've even offered the company who wants to interview to phone me at anytime, and i'll be free, i'll get time away from my temp job or whatever. My worry is that if I keep badgering them there are plenty of other people wanting the job at this place and they'll just fook me off and let someone else have it.

[lou]

Your son is a credit to you Lou

Thank you very much, Im incredibly proud.. its probably obvious .. It just pisses me off when people insinuate that "ethnic minorities" have it easier than whites... Id have thought it was not the case at all. I like to think were all in this together.. I dont begrudge anyone a job regardless of their background.

Yeah I know, I didn't mean to sound as if I was getting back at you just making the point.

Congrats to your son by the way, Badgering away is the only way to do it at the moment, a company I was told wanted to interview me weeks ago never contacted me back i've called them back a few times and its a new company opening but they just keep getting pushed back and pushed back as to when they are opening but "I'm next on the list to be interview" is the comment i've had everytime i've called, i'm in no rush as I have a temp job at the mo, but i've even offered the company who wants to interview to phone me at anytime, and i'll be free, i'll get time away from my temp job or whatever. My worry is that if I keep badgering them there are plenty of other people wanting the job at this place and they'll just fook me off and let someone else have it.

Yeah I know, I just wanted to clarify in case Id offended you! I hope everything works out for you, Im sure it will.

[Thracian]

I sincerely sympathise with those who are being made reduntant and face the very real possibility of that happening to me too....

I object to some people on here apparently having the view that if your Black that youre being thrown job opportunities as that is total bollocks. My Son looked for work for 12 months after leaving school and got his job through sheer hard work and determination.

He literally pestered the MD of his company to see him and give him a chance even thought they werent looking to hire an Apprentice at that stage.. he wouldnt take his calls so he posted him a CV and letter instead. The guy invited him to an interview at 8am the next morning and admitted to my lad that hed been testing him as he didnt expect him to turn up at such short notice and at that time of day. He did, 15 mins early, with a suit and tie and new shoes etc and was offered an Apprenticeship within 10 mins. No ones done him any favours.

And the very best of luck to him. He should perhaps become a part-time mentor to inspire a good few others but whatever, he's done himself proud and I hope he stays lucky. I fully understand where you're coming from too. My own youngest experienced cash flow problems at his restaurant so registered with an agency and has knocked up daily shifts and double shifts of from 8-22 hours a day. So much for the idle youth!

But while no-one might have done your son favours it is abundantly clear that others have benefitted from endless examples of positive descrimination and the overlap from specific targts into other workplces which would have been targetted if they hadn't changed.

You say you're sympathetic to people made redundant and redudancies happened in the past long before we had a multi-cultural society.

But in those days, when the tide turned there job prospects improved rapidly. That is not the case today. How would you like it if your son was turned down for the Police of the Fire Service because he wasn't white! You wouldn't.

Fifty years ago there were very few foreign employees in this country. A trickle came from the West Indies, then a few more from Uganda and now there are lots from all sorts of places and all sorts of cultures.

That's no problem in the main if there are jobs in abundance.

But if you take a situation where a country has a white English workforce and you give 15% of those jobs to people from other countries then you voluntarily provide opportunity for some and despair for others if you don't create new jobs to take up the slack.

And that is the case today. Fifteen per cent of the jobs have been given to visitors and the displaced natives have been left in the no-hope saloon since the jobs market has contracted.

Is there any real prospect of them departing for Africa or the Middle East to find work? Hardly. Mugabe shows the kind of tolerance of the white man which prevails in his land and I've no doubt he's not the only example either in Africa, the Arab countries or many other places.

And why should people who were born here, raised here and have family here be treated as the unwanted displaced anyway? Much less handicapped by blatantly unfair discrimination.

I don't know where you originate from but would you have liked to be pushed out of work in your country of origin to satisfy some political multi-ethnic integration experiment? I sincerely doubt it.

[CosbehFox]

I spent 12 months doing naff all after college. That wasn't down to a lack of opportunties, that wasn't down to a competitive nature of the current situation or down tp push out of jobs by immigrants. No it's because I was lazy. The first thing I did when I eventually began to get my arse into gear was to work for free and voluntary and I personally feel it was this decidation and willingness to do something which eventually lead to my current, paid job.

My cousin did his decorators qualification etc. etc. but he doesn't have any desire to work. My Dad's chased a couple of numbers for him but he never calls. He just hopes to get the odd week or months work labouring with his Dad. He has no problem though spending his money drinking etc. and repeating the same routine week after week. I can't understand what bogs him down but there's no desire there.

Whereas my brother approached the situation 12 months ago of leaving school, he was writing every left,right and centre and eventually got an apprentice and a job which he's done a years worth.

Similarly a friend of his in order to secure an apprenticeship was working with his current employers at weekends etc. for nearly two years before becoming full-time. He got his foot in the door and used it.

I have sympathy for the recent laid-off and the triers.

But there's a massive portion of people quite happy to sit on their arse and doing nuffink or go in and out of college for five years. Then there's the people who are so one-eyed, they aren't even open to a career change or changing their desired job. Sad really. Seems to be a whole load of people who can't see further than their own street (funny enough I remember times where I'd stayed in the four walls of my house for three days solid).