Steve_P

I don't think Canada produces an equivalent stat .
Officially Canada's unemployment rate is 8% but that figure only includes those registered with Canada manpower or whatever they are called this year. It does not include those who have given up looking for the time being.

jimf

So effectively 4 households out of 5 are providing income for the 1 in 5. In some parts of the UK it's as high as 25%. It's just not credible that so many people should be unable to find any work, but while the economy was doing well people were probably generally prepared to fund such such a situation. Nowdays it just looks completely unaffordable.

99problems

jimf

I agree, but the UK state soes not make work attractive - they pile up different benefits - housing benefit for those who cant afford to pay their rent and child benefit - effectively paying people to breed and not be financially responsible for their own families. People won't go to work unless work pays and secondly it should offer a chance of advancement for those who want it - lower end jobs in UK are treated as skivvie/immigrant/student roles rather than "a first step on the ladder". Hotels, restaurants, cafes, agriculture, cleaning jobs, factory labourers etc all guilty.

The situation is unsustainable - the answer is to stop spending on beneifts and put that money into tax incentives to employers providing meaningful training leading to skilled careers.

Oink

For, when at first you don't succeed, keep trotting out the same old over-simplified, naive and failed polices. Bring back the Laffer curve!

BristolUK

Both of which are available to people in employment.
Not that employers ever abuse that system by using the "incentives" to make up for low wages and sacking the employees before they work long enough to get employment protection of course.

Auld Yin

Not that employers ever abuse that system by using the "incentives" to make up for low wages and sacking the employees before they work long enough to get employment protection of course.

So who's responsible, the employers or the Government that allows it to happen? If the employers do it illegally then it's abuse and they should be substantially punished/fined. If, however, it's done legally it is no different than people using legal loopholes to to pay reduced income taxes.

Almost Canadian

And your solution is? Or is the status quo OK?

BristolUK

More immoral than exploiting a loophole. This is exploiting a person.

Is there a law against it? If the employee has no rights (yet) the employer is free to take on the the next subsidised worker as a replacement.

It was the same with YOPS when they replaced one school leaver with another; getting a cheap employee with each crop of school leavers.

Who would do something about it, the employer who gets an employee at less than real cost or the government happy to have lower unemployment figures?

99problems

It can be done we just lack the political will. Giving all employees rights after a basic 3 mths probation period would knock employer misbehaviour and exploitation on the head. UK has the weakest employment laws in Europe - we swung too far this way because the company became over unionised in the 60s and 70s - arguably why wel ost our competitive edge and manufacturing base.

dbd33

Have you looked at the employment laws, or lack of employment laws, in Canada?

linz3112

I work at a Recruitment Agency and we have plenty of work coming in at the mo - the issue we are having is that when we ask people if they want the work they either say no because it is minimum wage or no because it is only factory/warehouse work.

What i don't understand is why people continuously bug us for work and then when we find it for them they either don't turn up or don't want it!

If it was me, i would take whatever came my way as surely £5.80 and hour for a 40 hour week is better than £60 a week on the dole?
Some people have said to us that yes the hourly rate is better but they are better off staying on Benefits as that includes the housing and council tax benefits too and obviously our wage doesn't!

So, yes i think the benefit system is flawed but the people that have no pride in paying their own way are more to blame in my eyes.

el_richo

^^^^^^
What he said

99problems

There are 2 factors at play here - the prevailing culture amongst individuals - do they want to work? ...And the prevailing culture of employers - do they want to treat employees fairly with long term mutual benefit in mind?

A newer country with a growing economy attracting immigrants who are by their own nature more motivated than most will have employees with a positive outlook and employers that have grasped the long term growth opportunities. UK has sunk into a well of cynicism, over-regulation and mistrust.

dbd33

"Crikey!", ejaculated Nigel. It really is the promised land.

el_richo

I have a sneaky feeling that you haven't experienced life in Canada just yet, and are an avid reader of the Daily Mail?

Apologies if i'm wrong