Young Britons are being accused of “doing nothing” as a commentator warns that post-pandemic lockdowns have left a generation stuck at home, struggling with mental health issues.
Michael Simmons argued on GB News that while migration and temporary worker visas may keep wages down, the root problem is that under 25s are "just lazy."
New research has revealed that approximately one million British people aged 16 to 24 are currently neither employed nor engaged in education or training.
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Young Britons are being accused of 'doing nothing'
|GB NEWS
This figure represents a dramatic increase of nearly 200,000 since before the pandemic, according to a Centre for Social Justice think tank study released yesterday.
Speaking to GB News, Author at the Spectator Mr Simmons said: "I’m sorry to say, but I think we actually are talking about young people being lazy.
"I’m not entirely convinced by the evidence that native Brits are competing for jobs against migrants and losing out. What’s happened, particularly since the pandemic, is an increasing trend of young people who are doing very little.
"They’re not going to university, they’re not looking for jobs they’re just sitting at home on benefits.
"A huge portion of this is linked to the rise in mental health issues, anxiety, and depression
"The pandemic lockdowns normalised the idea that you don’t have to just get on with life, that you can dwell on your problems.
"What the Government and employers have done, rather than addressing these health issues or incentivising work, is take the easy option: turn on the migration tap.
"That’s why we saw the Boris wave and the rise in temporary worker visas.
"This is now impacting young people by keeping wages down, making these jobs even less attractive but I don’t think it’s the initial cause itself."
New research has revealed that approximately one million British people aged 16 to 24 are currently neither employed nor engaged in education or training
| GETTYWhile young British workers have seen their numbers decline by 49,000 over the past five years, the employment of non-EU nationals under 25 has surged by more than 250,000 during the same period.
These individuals, commonly referred to as NEETs, now represent one in eight of all 16 to 24-year-olds in Britain.
The research indicates this shift has occurred alongside unprecedented levels of immigration and changes to the UK labour market.