Do people think Brits have been spoiled by the extremely low unemployment in the UK at the moment? Is it therefore fair to compare it to Canada?
The UK has the lowest unemployment for about 30 years at about 3%. This compares to about 5% in US, France at 9%, Sweden at 9%, Germany at 10% and Spain at 14%. Canada's rate of 7% isn't really that bad in comparison.

When I started work back in the early nineties, Britain's unemployment was 10%. It's only historically low now because Tony Blair has created thousands of public sector jobs paid for by tax payers.
If the Tories are returned to power in 2005, (as is likely), tax cuts will mean much higher unemployment.

Could it be so low because so many people, frustrated by the cost of property, overcrowding in the cities, and general yobish behaviour, are leaving the country? I dont know the numbers, but I suspect more people are trying to immigrate now than have for many years

Iain

I don't think when looking at unemployment, you can compare the UK with canada. There are so many issues here to look at: The population being the most important.

If you want to compare unemployment, you are better off comparing it to other European countries of the same size and number of people. Tony Blair didn't come in till 97, even though they might have reduced the unemployment figures, there are a lot of things his government managed to screw up too, education comes to mind. We also know they like to sex up stories and figures.

If everything was honky dory, people won't be trying to EMIGRATE. Am sure its fair to say we have never seen anything like it, you only have to be on this forum, to see what people are saying, and how frustrated they are.

If Tony Blair wins the next election, I see anarchy on the horizon
:scared:

There are many reasons why people want to emigrate. Mine is entirely personal and has nothing to do with a loathing of Britain or a love of Canada. I completely agree however, the UK is a mess. Often you can't even put your finger on why!
I'm sure the fact we have 60 million people crammed into an area the size of Nova Scotia doesn't help.:scared:

It is a very very bizarre situation at the moment. I haven't really figured out what's going on with the UK. For the first time in history, more Australians are emigrating to the UK than the other way around, and people are flocking from all over the world to the UK. Canada and the US included - and in record numbers.

Yet whilst all these people are moving to Britain, native Britons are leaving as fast as the boats can take them...

Weird.

I can understand why to some extent! The UK IS quite an exciting place to be at the moment. In Leeds there are new apartments, corporate office towers, designer shops and ultra-trendy bars springing up all over the place. People have very high disposable incomes, especially those with property that has doubled in value in 2 years. London too, it's perhaps THE most exciting city in the world. Never mind the disturbing levels of crime and 3rd world pockets of poverty, London is the 'it girl' of the world at the moment. It has everything, movie stars, £5000 a night hotel suits etc. To someone in Boring Brisbane or Winnepeg, the draw of such a fast-paced, urbanised, cultured nation must be enormous. Ask, why most people from Oz, NZ and Canada move to Britain and the answer will probably be, because 'whatever' is boring. Britain is far from boring, but that doesn't mean it's liveable.

One thing to consider when comparing unemployment rates is that in the UK unlike most other countries is calculated on people who ARE CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENIFIT.

In theory, if you cannot claim benifit, Your not unemployed.

If you ask me the figure of 3% in reality is much higher, especially in the north.

Oh, undoubtedly! 3% is complete rubbish! I'd say it's nearer to 10%. On many council estates 50% of people are out of work. Many of those claim incapacity benefit and are therefore not officially unemployed. You even get incapacity benefit for feeling depressed!

Really? Are you basing that figure on fact or is that just your perception? Reading it like that it does seem to be rather a sweeping statement and possibly a little judgemental but perhaps you are right.

I've got to say that I grew up on a council estate here in the south east where most of the houses are now in private ownership due to the big council house sell off although to the casual visitor it still looks like a council estate.

I have relations who live on a council estate in Sheffield. They don't work, and neither do any of their neighbours. I'm not being judgemental or prejudice, it's just a fact! 3% unemployment is total and utter nonsense if you ask me. Most old industrial northern cities must be miles higher than this. I don't know the figures, but I'll never accept that places like Rotherham/Liverpool/Hull/Middlesborough have less than about 10% or even 15% unemployment. It's just cobblers! Unemployment in these places is rife. You can either see with your own eyes the long dole queues or you can believe the sexed-up figures by President Blair. I know who I believe. I'd say UK unemployment is rather closer to 7 or 8%.

Well I certainly take your point because I tend not to believe the official figures either.

I'm probably being picky but it was just reading the figure of 50% that I was questioning and applying it to council estates. That's why I asked you if you had that particular figure as a hard fact because if so then it's an astounding percentage.

I got the figure of 50% from a documentary about an estate in South London. Apparently 70% of under 21's are unemployed on this estate. Aylesbury estate I think?
I can believe it personally!:scared:

werent labour responsible for bringing job seekers allowance in. didnt this wipe thousands off the unemployment register over night. i dont disagree that the uk economy has been bouyant and unemployment levels low since labour have been in power but i dotn attribute this all to tony blair.

Could that be because they are in university getting a degree, and usually these figures don't count during unemployment figures?

You did say under 21 right?