Unemployment and the World of Work
What are the needs of the unemployed?
- Employment needs - to get a job
- Training needs - people have had to learn new skills so that they are more employable
- Financial needs - money for themselves and their families
How does the government help people find a job?
- People who are unemployed and looking for a job are entitled to a benefit called the "Jobseekers Allowance"
- Unemployed people can visit Job Centres which display vacancies and have staff to give advice
- If a person has been unemployed for more than 6 months they can use a job club which gives help with job applications
- People who have been out of work for more than two years get more help from a specialist in the "Jobfinders Scheme"
- Adults can also take part in training schemes to improve their skills and increase their employability
What does the government do to help young people find jobs?
- Skillseekers - which is a mixture of work experience and training for 16 to 18 year olds
- Modern Apprentiships - this involves training to a higher level than skillseekers
Why may it be harder for people with disabilities to find work?
- The employer does not think they can do as good a job as others
- There may be access problems in the workplace (for example, no ramps for wheelchair users)
- The employer may not be willing to spend money adapting the workplace so that it is suitable for a disabled person
- The employer may worry that the disabled person would be bullied by other workers
Why may it be harder for older people to find work?
- They may not have the skills needed for many modern jobs
- They may not want to retrain in the new skills
- Young people can be paid less
- Employers may prefer to take on a young person who could have a longer working life
Why may it be harder for single parents to find work?
- Cost of childcare makes working not financially viable
- Some employers may discriminate as they think single parents will need to take time off work to look after their children
What are the effects of new technology on employment?
Positive effects
- Cheaper to make goods, so cheaper goods and/or greater profits
- Goods are made to a consistant standard
- Machines can do the boring, repetitive or dangerous jobs that used to be done by humans
- New areas of employment have opened up in manufacturing (e.g. silicon chips) and service industries (e.g. web site design)
Negative effects
- Jobs are lost to machines in manufacturing e.g. robots in car factories
- Jobs have been lost to machines in offices
- People have to adapt and retrain to use the new technologies
What are the arguments for a National Minimum Wage?
- It frees people from the poverty trap where they would be better off not working and receiving benefits rather than earning a wage
- Less people would claim benefit therefore saving the government money
- More people have more money to spend and therefore the whole economy benefits
What are the arguments against a National Minimum Wage?
- It increases costs for employers whose business may suffer
- Workers may have to be laid off as the employer cannot afford the higher wages
- The price of goods and services to the consumer would increase
- Britain would be less competitive than other countries as its wage costs could be higher
What are the effects of unemployment and low pay?
- Health problems - people who are unemployed or have low pay tend to have poorer diet, higher infant mortality, higher disease levels and lower life expectancy
- Housing problems - people who are unemployed or have low pay tend to live in smaller houses with more dampness and vandalism
- Social problems - people who are unemployed or have low pay tend to live in areas that have more crime, problem drug use and poorer recreational and social facilities
What is the "New Deal"?
It is a scheme brought in by the Labour Government in 1998. There is a range of ways the New Deal aims to help long term unemployed, including help to employers, training plans, and guaranteed work, training or education. If a person does not tale up any of the options benefits can be stopped.
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