The unemployment rate is 4.1% which is low and lower than many EU countries. Poor hours and low wages makes recruitment hard in hospitality.
Perhaps reflected by the large numbers of folk on benefits and the reason why so many are prepared to take chances crossing the channel in flimsy craft. Maybe our welfare system is too generous?
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The unemployment rate is 4.1% which is low and lower than many EU countries. Poor hours and low wages makes recruitment hard in hospitality.
Perhaps reflected by the large numbers of folk on benefits and the reason why so many are prepared to take chances crossing the channel in flimsy craft. Maybe our welfare system is too generous?
If you ever have to reply just on benefits you will understand it's not great.
They come here as the UK (despite what some of the residents think) is seen as a great country - one of freedom, good people and a chance of a great life. And many people will know some English as well as it's a common language which is another reason they would want to come. The welfare system won't come into it as people desperate enough to come here will want to work their socks off to stay.
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We have a serious issue with our workforce. There are simply not enough skilled staff in the right places to fill the vacancies.
According to a travel industry consultant I heard on radio this week there are currently 1m vacancies in tourism which includes airports, aviation, hospitality etc. Heathrow alone needs 12,000 staff to operate as it did before Covid.
There has also been a huge increase in the number of highly skilled people in their 50s who after Covid decided now was the time to simply decide not to work and take the pension, sell their business and go and do something less stressful.
I know a few. Since the end of the lockdowns friends who were dentists, doctors, rail staff, solicitors, local authority employees, teachers, supermarket employees are now all semi or fully retired. None of them are 60. All are looking far younger than a few years ago!
I doubt many of them will be lookimg to work on trawlers to catch fish for their fish and chips.
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Since the end of the lockdowns friends who were dentists, doctors, rail staff, solicitors, local authority employees, teachers, supermarket employees are now all semi or fully retired. None of them are 60. All are looking far younger than a few years ago!
That may be true near you. The local supermarket here seems to have several middle-aged or even older staff ... :-)
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We spend about three quarters of each year overseas - at our properties in Thailand and Mojacar, Spain. No problem getting fish in either location and the price hasn't changed much recenly - we eat out every day and enjoy seafood. In Thailand plenty of sea bream, tilapia, prawns, crab, clams, squid, tuna and mackerel etc - the markets are full of it. Ditto in Spain - we eat fish almost daily.
A lot of the UK's problems stem from an overly generous welfare system. I understand that the number of job vacancies exceeds the number of unemployed - so I fail to understand why unemployment benefit is being paid. A bit more 'not work, not eat' is required! Time also to take a long hard look at the vast army of supposed 'disabled' - the numbers seem to have grown exponentially in recent years.
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A bit more 'not work, not eat' is required! Time also to take a long hard look at the vast army of supposed 'disabled' - the numbers seem to have grown exponentially in recent years.
One difficulty with that suggestion is that it might lead to more thieving or shoplifting. And I suspect that quite a number of these people prioritise expenditure on certain life-enhancing additives - which don't come particularly cheap.
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"I understand that the number of job vacancies exceeds the number of unemployed - so I fail to understand why unemployment benefit is being paid."
One reason is that the surplus of labour is not where the vacancies are. Mobility of labour is poor in the UK, not helped by the inadequate supply of social housing.
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Unemployment figures in the UK are but a shadow of the number of people that languish in the background. In some Northern cities & towns in England minority populations (aged 18 to 65) can have 50% unemployment in males and 70+% females
Unemployed, unemployables, "on the sick", people with heart & kidney problems (Heart lazy & Kidnae be bothered).
A village, not that far away from me, is an ex-mining village. 50 years ago there was a constant flow of walkers, bikes, motorbikes & bus from 6am until 9 ish and from 4pm to 7pm.
The houses are still there + the village school. The pub has gone.
Few people of working age seem to work. This was confirmed to me when the SkyQ box failed. The chap who came to fix the issue had been in the same class as a son, he is 49. He remarked that out of the 15 boys in the class he was only aware of 4/5 others who work - the rest were unemployed, "sick" etc - some worked the odd day for cash in hand labouring, driver's mate for deliveries etc etc
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Unemployment figures in the UK are but a shadow of the number of people that languish in the background. In some Northern cities & towns in England minority populations (aged 18 to 65) can have 50% unemployment in males and 70+% females
Unemployed, unemployables, "on the sick", people with heart & kidney problems (Heart lazy & Kidnae be bothered).
A village, not that far away from me, is an ex-mining village. 50 years ago there was a constant flow of walkers, bikes, motorbikes & bus from 6am until 9 ish and from 4pm to 7pm.
The houses are still there + the village school. The pub has gone.
Few people of working age seem to work. This was confirmed to me when the SkyQ box failed. The chap who came to fix the issue had been in the same class as a son, he is 49. He remarked that out of the 15 boys in the class he was only aware of 4/5 others who work - the rest were unemployed, "sick" etc - some worked the odd day for cash in hand labouring, driver's mate for deliveries etc etc
I think you're absolutely right.
Britain needs some 'tough love'. Slash benefits and anybody claiming to be 'sick' or 'disabled' needs to be given a VERY thorough vetting. Motability is an absolute racket. When we were in the UK shortly before Christmas were sat in the local Morrisson's supermarket cafe overlooking the 'disabled' parking bays. All occupied by rather newish and smart looking cars - their sprightly owners loading up the shopping. One or two walking with their 'magic money stick'.
Of course, as you say, there are now many cities warehousing large numbers of economically inactive 'minorities' - quite what we do with them is going to be a huge problem in future given their relatively higher reproductive rate.
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<< Slash benefits and anybody claiming to be 'sick' or 'disabled' needs to be given a VERY thorough vetting. Motability is an absolute racket. When we were in the UK shortly before Christmas were sat in the local Morrison's supermarket cafe overlooking the 'disabled' parking bays.>>
You seem to be in favour of a strong police state (strong bureaucracy will cost money from somewhere, but I suppose it should increase employment) which sits oddly with your otherwise non-socialist attitudes ?
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Britain needs some 'tough love'. Slash benefits and anybody claiming to be 'sick' or 'disabled' needs to be given a VERY thorough vetting. Motability is an absolute racket. When we were in the UK shortly before Christmas were sat in the local Morrisson's supermarket cafe overlooking the 'disabled' parking bays. All occupied by rather newish and smart looking cars - their sprightly owners loading up the shopping. One or two walking with their 'magic money stick'.
Where is the link between Motability and the cars parked in the disabled bays? Not all disabled people have Motability cars. And why do you think people are not vetted?
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I think you're absolutely right.
Well let's see if FB can rise to the challenge of particularising his lazy assertions
Britain needs some 'tough love'. Slash benefits and anybody claiming to be 'sick' or 'disabled' needs to be given a VERY thorough vetting. Motability is an absolute racket. When we were in the UK shortly before Christmas were sat in the local Morrisson's supermarket cafe overlooking the 'disabled' parking bays. All occupied by rather newish and smart looking cars - their sprightly owners loading up the shopping. One or two walking with their 'magic money stick'.
There are said to be places, with Northern Ireland mentioned in dispatches, where there is suspected fraud around obtaining Motability cars. That needs to clamped down on and people, including particularly car dealers who are complicit brought in front of the courts.
The scheme itself however is sound. There already is very thorough vetting of people claiming the turnkey benefits, PIP and DLA. Same with the Work Capability Assessment for long term ill-health benefits. As evidenced by the overturn rate at tribunal the vetting is all too often over applied.
Why you think there's a link between Motability and alleged abuse of disabled bays at Morrisons is beyond me. PIP and DLA (the latter is now limited to under 16s) are not means tested, I knew a Professor quite eminent in his field who got PIP for Mobility on account of a congenital disorder.
I'v no idea what a 'magic money stick' is.
Don't get me started on the rudeness and inhumanity of a handful of DWP employees insisting, for example that a man with well evidenced agoraphobia attend a Job Centre and stopping his money when he could not do so.
Of course, as you say, there are now many cities warehousing large numbers of economically inactive 'minorities' - quite what we do with them is going to be a huge problem in future given their relatively higher reproductive rate.
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Unemployment figures in the UK are but a shadow of the number of people that languish in the background. In some Northern cities & towns in England minority populations (aged 18 to 65) can have 50% unemployment in males and 70+% females
Unemployed, unemployables, "on the sick", people with heart & kidney problems (Heart lazy & Kidnae be bothered).
Do you actually have any evidence, beyond anecdata from a Sky box mender?
In particular can you identify the towns and particularise the assertion in your first paragraph?
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Since the end of the lockdowns friends who were dentists, doctors, rail staff, solicitors, local authority employees, teachers, supermarket employees are now all semi or fully retired. None of them are 60. All are looking far younger than a few years ago!
That may be true near you. The local supermarket here seems to have several middle-aged or even older staff ... :-)
I’m talking of supermarket HQ staff who weren’t shop floor. Senior buyers, finance managers, HR directors etc. ironically early retirees go to do shop floor work. Keeps them in work but without the stress of a senior position.
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