Young people frightened about their future

When it comes to securing a lucrative career and staying relatively debt-free, young Britons are worried about the future that awaits them in these tough economic times.

A poll of more than 1,000 14-18 year olds by Opinium Research for Young Enterprise showed that a staggering, 65% are heavily concerned about being financially secure in the future.

The figures indicate that the older the teenagers get, the more cynical they become.

64% of the 14-year-olds spoke positively about their education, stating that their school was successful. When this statistic is compared with the 54% of 18-year-olds who echoed the same satisfaction.

The polls further shows that only 52% believe they will be financially better off than their parents, with the rest insisting that they will be worse off or in the same position as their parents.

With the increase in tuition fees, unemployment, homelessness and the proposed cutting of housing benefits for under 25s, it isn’t difficult to see why these crucial members of our society have a bleak outlook on their future.
Michael Mercieca, chief executive of Young Enterprise, referred to the results as ‘worrying’.

He said: “Schools should be giving young people the aptitude that will help them shrug off class barriers and create their own jobs and businesses.”

Recent findings by Scottish Widows think-tank Centre for the Modern Family revealed that a fifth of families are struggling to make ends meet and the problem is particularly acute for younger people, with those aged between 18 and 34 being more than twice as likely as the adult population as a whole to take out a payday loan.