A survey has examined the work situation in the United Kingdom: Many young people feel mentally stressed and want to quit their jobs already. However, the alternative of living off social benefits is not exactly easier.
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The “PricewaterhouseCoopers”, short PwC, has examined the employment situation in the United Kingdom in an “Inactivity Report”. In their survey, they found that inactivity in the United Kingdom could continue to rise because employees want to leave the workforce.
How bad do the numbers look in the labor market?
- 10% are currently actively considering leaving the workforce, affecting both women and men equally.
- Another 19% of employees have seriously considered leaving the workforce for an extended period in the last 12 months.
- 37% of those aged 18 to 24 reported that in the past year they either seriously considered quitting their job or are currently actively considering it.
Especially young people are considering becoming a so-called NEET. NEET stands for “Not in Education, Employment or Training” and means that the person is currently not in training, working, or in school/university. Instead of working, they would prefer to live off social benefits.
Applying for social benefits feels like a ‘full-time job without any benefits’
However, the alternative of living solely on social benefits does not seem to be the best solution in the end. Because young people are already complaining about the high bureaucratic effort, which feels almost like a full-time job.
Thus, the English magazine Fortune interviewed several young people in the United Kingdom who have engaged with unemployment and social benefits, only to find that it is ultimately much more difficult than the conventional alternative: “Applying for social benefits is a full-time job without any benefits.”
Why are many quitting their jobs? Many individuals, as reported by PwC, have left their jobs primarily due to mental health issues and attribute their problems to a lack of support from companies.
When asked what brought them to this situation, the vast majority did not mention high salaries or positions but simply stated that flexibility at work and support from their bosses would help them cope better with these mental health issues.
The trend of quitting one’s job can be observed across the entire population: The results are consistent across various income levels, education, commuting times, and regions.
Generation Z is pushing for entry into the labor market. According to statistics, a large portion has a university degree. However, this is causing some young individuals to struggle because there are too many applicants for too few positions. In Germany, every 5th employee is overqualified: Generation Z is the most educated generation in history: Unfortunately, they are also the most overqualified in the labor market.
