‘The UK has little to offer young people’: Readers weigh in on Gen Z exodus

Independent readers say it’s no wonder young people are quietly leaving the UK; They argue that Britain now feels less like a place to build a future and more like a place to escape to.

As new figures reveal the extent of youth migration, many in our community said Generation Z was following a long tradition of Brits heading abroad to find better opportunities. They pointed out that migration is hardly a new thing; Generations of adventurers, graduates and workers packed their bags before them.

While some have highlighted the long history of Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Cornish people making new beginnings abroad, others have noted that young Europeans are now leaving the UK in droves and that it no longer seems like a land of opportunity.

But many readers argued that something to have has changed: the UK today feels “miserable”, “unwelcome” and increasingly “unaffordable”.

Many described the country as divided and “offering little to extrovert-minded young people.” Others pointed to political turmoil, rising costs of living and what one reader called a “toxic” national mood as key factors behind the increased flight.

Here’s what you need to say:

Eire has become the place to go

Due to its EU membership, Eire has become the go-to destination for English-speaking EU students after Brexit. By comparison, the UK looks overpriced, overcrowded and divided.

In the 1970s, there was a lot of immigration to the US because there was more freedom and better opportunities due to taxation and floundering by the Labor government. I set my goal to pursue a doctorate in Tucson, Arizona, but I didn’t quite get the grades. Instead, I worked in a variety of teaching/engineering positions, but when things came full circle after 16 years of Tory rule, I could see my life coming in smaller and smaller circles. There was always a lot of moon at the end of the money.

While I’m not a fan of Margaret Thatcher, she at least gave us an escape route to the continent in the event of Brexit. The only thing holding me back was the language barrier but IT made that aspect much easier. So, at the age of 57, I went to Qatar, and from there 10 years later to Spain, where I finished my working life. I never would have believed that the last few years of my working life would be this adventurous.

At 22, I failed for the first time, but considering the current situation in the US, maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Yet no politician will own you; Only you are in control of your life, your talent, and your resources. With an open mind and accepting that things may be done differently than in your home country, there are still plenty of opportunities to be explored there.

FreeLife

Go where the work is

This shouldn’t surprise anyone with any knowledge of history. Huge waves of our population were depleted when opportunities appeared better elsewhere. Irish, Scots, Welsh and Cornish have wide representation around the world.

Younger generations are doing exactly what we advise: “go where the work is.” In most cases they rode bicycles, except when it was a plane, as one politician was quoted as saying “get on your bike”. Good for them.

cousinjack

England is pretty miserable these days

It’s no surprise that young people decide to work abroad: They are often independent, mortgage-free and want to experience other cultures and climates. This is nothing new; I did this when I was young, fresh out of college 50 years ago.

But life in Britain is pretty miserable these days and I don’t really blame them for wanting to do this.

Arco iris

living the dream

If people are unhappy where they are, they want something else. Young people need to start working their lives together, but they don’t need to set everything in stone unless it’s their choice. Life is like a vacation: We want to carry the right things with us and be careful of scammers. This is universal in a way.

In fact, most people have a much lower chance of realizing their dream of living abroad with equal rights and obligations on paper. If you’re welcome and the paperwork is in order you can go, but the world is generally less welcoming these days and the paperwork is much more restrictive/challenging/expensive.

Yet if you’re unhappy and want something other than a Brexit UK, it’s hard to see any other way. My exodus was highly improbable, as I left home on Halloween with a fiver in a 20-year-old Civic, but I’m still here and living that dream every day. Closer closer!

Belief

Britain has little to offer young people

We advised both of our children to look abroad. I already have someone and I’ve never seen him this happy. I could imagine the other one would follow (still in sixth form). The UK has little to offer young people with an outward-looking and international mindset; He is becoming increasingly older and introverted day by day. As the tide of politics changes, I can only see this increasing.

SeanF

It’s something a certain type of teenager always does

I haven’t seen the figures on youth migration, but I was at school in the 1950s, at university in the 60s, and was always aware of young people moving abroad to work. This is something certain types of teenagers do all the time. In the Middle Ages there were scholars and mercenaries who set out to travel the world; Young adventurers have needed new pastures throughout the ages. I think we’re more aware of this now because of our national obsession with immigration.

MH1111

If they want to protect what they have earned

This was good for the young people. If they do not want to keep what they earn and farm for rent, emigration is a logical choice. Widespread inequalities, including intergenerational inequality, continue to be ignored by politicians in the UK.

Thetis

More than half of my young adult relatives have fled

More than half of my young adult relatives have fled the UK and they seem very happy with their decision.

Less taxes, less burdensome laws and much better prospects. It’s a bit sad that I only get to see them at family funerals these days, but I wish them the best.

FinStabilized

A few years abroad will open your eyes

A few years abroad will open their eyes to what the UK has to offer: mild climate, no major earthquakes, interesting architecture, a wide variety of residents from all over the world, widely spoken English, few mosquitoes, no killer spiders or snakes, greenery, light in the sky on summer evenings, the world’s best sunsets, exhibitions and art galleries. Interesting history. Actually, when you think about things, it’s the center of the world.

DuncanDonut

Why should we stay?

Of course young people are leaving. Their future was either destroyed or made more difficult nearly a decade ago.

Someone who was a teenager in 2016; If he has completed his education and received a good education, what kind of motivation can he have in 2026? Why should we stay? Brexit I have said many times that I left my family after the referendum and before Bozo’s majority because I did not want to raise children in England. And what’s the use of someone staying when the future could lead to Deformation and fascism?

bobbertson

Some of the comments in this article have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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