Snowflake Generation tag on young people is 'a myth', landmark report finds
A lack of opportunities, from Saturday jobs to entry level positions, is starving young people of experience, while a lack of joined up policy making is contributing to this, the former health secretary said.
It is “a myth” of young people being a so-called snowflake generation, Alan Milburn has said, saying his report shows a lack of opportunity as opposed to a lack of effort.
Mr Milburn unveiled his damning report into the youth employment crisis, which is costing the UK £1.25bn a year.
A lack of opportunities, from Saturday jobs to entry level positions, is starving young people of experience, while a lack of joined up policy making is contributing to this, the former health secretary said.
One of the main findings, he explained in a press conference in London, was that the crisis expunged the idea that young people are a “snowflake generation” that do not want to work hard.
The review found that 84 per cent of Neet young people - those not in education, training or employment - surveyed want a job, yet the system is failing to help them get one.
Mr Milburn said: “They are not a generation that has given up, they are not a generation that isn’t putting in effort - the reason for them to give up is that rejection is now the norm.
“You put in an application, dozens at a time, you hear nothing back. Can you imagine if that happened to you every single week, no response, no feedback.
“I think it’s hard, I’ve a huge amount of empathy for young people today.
“It’s a myth, the story of not trying, being soft, being the snowflake generation. I just don’t buy it.
“I think the fundamental problem they have is that the opportunities, that we all took for granted, are just not around in the same way. It exacts a very high price on them, and a very high price on our economy and our society, and we’d better do something about it.”
Connie Muttock, of the Centre for Young Lives, added: “Alan Milburn’s report puts to bed the nonsense that this is a ‘Snowflake Generation’ unwilling and unable to work.
“The reality is there are hundreds of thousands of young people not in education, employment or training who want to get into work but are being held back.
“We are seeing a generation of anxious and isolated young people who are denied access to the pathways into employment travelled by previous generations.
“The consequences for their life chances, our economy and wider society are disastrous - and should concern every government department, from Health and Education to Transport and the Treasury.”