Survey finds grim picture of young jobless in Chch

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 1

Survey finds grim picture of young jobless in Chch

Industrial reporter

Christchurch now has a hard core of young unemployed who have been out of work for more than six months, according to a survey of unemployed youth.

The survey, commissioned by the Christchurch Employment Advisory Committee after representations from the Christchurch City Council community services committee, was released publicly vesterday after four months of preparation and analysis.

It found that about 30 per cent of the 134 young people aged between 15 and 21 had been unemployed for more than six months. This contradicts the common assumption that most unemployed find jobs within a few months. Even more alarming is the revelation that about 12 per cent have been unemployed for more than a year.

The survey also destroys the myth that the unemployed are not interested in working. “Most of the 134 respondents had taken more than one step to try to find work in the week before interviewing,’’ says the report. Eighty-two had used a newspaper, 21 had called on factories, 21 had asked friends, and 31 had been to the Labour Department; Only 22 (17 per cent) admitted that they had done nothing to obtain a job in the week before being interviewed. It is not known how long the 22 had been unemployed, but the renort says that 90 per cent of the unemployed in. the survey wanted fulltime jobs.

Reasons given for being unemployed varied — 19 per cent had been fired or laid off, 9 per cent did not like their jobs, and 9 per cent had changed their addresses. About 28 per cent had never worked, while the rest left their jobs for reasons such as illness of parents, bad conditions at work, too far to travel, going to university, and wanting to get a better job.

When asked how they felt about being unemployed, 46 per cent felt that boredom was the worst aspect, while 19 per cent said they were angry and frustrated. “I feel depressed about it. I get tired of listening to records and not having the satisfaction of having done something. I like that about working, knowing you’ve done something,” said one young person interviewed. Others were worried about a lack of money. “You can’t go out much because you haven’t enough money, so your social life takes a big dip; and if you want to play sports you have your sports subs coming in and you have to buy stuff, It’s all built on money.” Other young unemployed persons mentioned problems of loneliness, getting depressed about failing to get jobs, and losing selfconfidence. The report notes that there was a strong feeling among the young un-

employed that Department of Social Welfare staff lacked a caring attitude. Sixty-four per cent of those surveyed were 17 or 18. Christchurch was the home town for 80 per cent of the total. Sixty-eight per cent still lived with their parents, 19 per cent with flatmates, 7 per cent with friends, and 5 per cent with partners. Less than 2 per cent lived alone. Sixty-nine per cent of the sample said they would like to do voluntary work in the community. Fifty-nine per cent of the sample were receiving an unemployment benefit. It took less than six weeks for 64 per cent of them to get their first payment, but for 8 per cent it took three months from the time they became unemployed. At the start of the survey last September there were 1469 registered unemployed in Christchurch in the 15 to 21 year age-, group.

The report made the following recommendations:

More programmes relating to the acquiring of job skills should be introduced in schools, especially for the non-academic student.

Employers advertising jobs in newspapers should be as explicit as possible about the requirements of the job.

AH employers should make every effort to notify unsuccessful job applicants as soon as jobs are filled. All young people should be given a statement by

their employer of work skills required while in their job.

More understanding should be given to the relatively frequent job changes made by young people in predominantly unskilled work.

Training opportunities in semi-skilled and skilled areas should be expanded. Training in job-seeking should be available on a continuing basis for those out of work.

Every possible way of employment should be"considered — job sharing, work co-operatives, staggered working hours, parttime job schemes, etc, — to involve as many young people as possible in work.

The Labour Department should make a greater effort to inform the community about the services it offers on employment and vocational guidance. Special efforts should be made to improve the chances of those young people unemployed” for longer periods. A community service scheme should be developed for young unemployed people. Leisure skills and opportunities should be a definite part of programmes drawn up for young unemployed people.

Leisure interests for early school leavers should be positively encouraged. Social centres specifically for young people should be devised and provided.