Our children will be worse off than we are, say two-thirds of British adults
A majority of Britons believe the next generation faces greater financial difficulties than today’s adults, as the number of young people struggling to find education or employment opportunities continues to rise, a new survey has found.
More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of adults in the UK think children growing up today will be worse off than their parents, according to a survey commissioned by the Big Issue. Independent.
Only 11 percent think today’s youth would be at least slightly better off, according to a YouGov poll of 2,140 people.
The findings come as the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) approaches one million, up 11 per cent since 2020.
At the same time, cost-of-living concerns are rising as conflicts in the Middle East threaten to halt any economic growth in the near future. Inflation rose slightly by 0.3 percentage points to 3.3 percent in March; This marks a definite departure from the downward trend of recent months.
Experts have predicted that Ofgem’s energy price cap could rise by at least £200 when the current level expires in July, with the increase reflecting a rise in prices of basic needs such as food and housing costs.
Big Issue Group CEO Paul Cheal said: [The Big Issue’s] “The point remains, the world around us has changed dramatically – and the apparent pessimism in this survey clearly demonstrates the need for businesses like us to innovate in our support for the next generation.”
When asked which political party would be best to reduce the number of unemployed people, 40 percent said either none or they were not sure.
But public opinion They are more likely to support the Conservative Party (15 per cent) or Reform (14 per cent) to reduce unemployment than Labor (12 per cent) or the Green Party (10 per cent).
Only a third (32 per cent) of those who voted for Labor in the 2024 general election now support them as the party best at reducing unemployment.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of so-called NEETs aged 16 to 24 was reported as 957,00 in the three months from October to December.
Former health secretary Alan Milburn is currently leading a government review of young people and employment aimed at tackling these rising numbers.
Last year Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the “youth guarantee”, pledging to offer a guaranteed paid job to every eligible young person who is out of job training for 18 months.
Speaking at the 35th anniversary of the Big Issue, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said the magazine “provides the dignity of a delivery”, adding: “an opportunity to be economically active, build confidence, develop new skills and develop a sense of honour.”
“The Big Issue, more than anything else, is giving people a second chance, and of course I know what I’m talking about when it comes to second chances,” he added.
The Labor MP was recently cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing in tax matters relating to a £40,000 underpayment of stamp duty. Speculation has increased that he may be a leadership candidate in the near future.
