Haakon+-+2

= The lost generation =

**Consequences of the youth unemployment ** Youth unemployment can lead to many consequences:

__For individuals:__ • Poverty • Social ills • Crime and drug abuse • Mental illness • Increased suicide rate

__For families and community:__ • Unrest • Political extremism • Increased family breakup • Homelessness • Domestic violence • Brutalization of lifestyle • Higher and rising crime rates

Crime and social ills can occur while people are poor and are struggling to get a job. Some people might be tempted to work illegally, because they don’t get any other jobs and think that this is the only way to earn money.

The poverty caused by youth unemployment can also reduce people’s self-esteem and this can sometimes lead to mental illness. Another consequence of the youth unemployment is that some people may come in contact with hazardous environments where drug abuse occurs. Drug abuse affects the individual mentally and socially, and provides a higher suicide rate in Britain.

Youth unemployment doesn’t only affect the individuals, but also the society. The costs are huge. When unemployment increases, the government has to pay benefits as well as the other costs which are a consequence of the unemployment. For example increased costs to fight crime and increased need for health care.

The youth unemployment and poverty may also cause violence and unrest. They are sources to political extremism, as for example neo-Nazism or Islamic fundamentalism (5).

Entire families can get affected by the youth unemployment too. Each family needs money to buy food, clothing and a place to live, but without education or qualifications to get a job, it’s really difficult to earn this money. Accordingly, homelessness is a consequence of youth unemployment. Domestic violence and an increased amount of family breakups are also problems that may appear under these circumstances. Youth unemployment in Britain also has somewhat bad influence for the rest of the British population. Poverty, crime and unrest among young people may occur and the consequences in Britain are dramatic to individuals, families and the society. Hence, it is important that the government continues working to keep unemployment as low as possible. Read more about the measures to combat the youth unemployment here.

Sources:

 * (1) http://129.3.20.41/eps/lab/papers/0507/0507003.pdf - The challenge of youth unemployment, Niall O'Higgins, 28.03.11
 * (2) http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/faculty/jkaret/cbny96/ap8kyopap.html - Homeless in the United States, Kyosuke Yoshide (June, 2, 1995), 28.03.11
 * (3) http://writ.news.findlaw.com/buchanan/20100408.html - @ 2011 FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business, 28.03.11
 * (4) http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6234592-503544.html - @ 2011 CBS Interactive Inc, 28.03.11
 * (5) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_43_40/ai_n6276598/ - @ 2010 CBS Interactive, 28.03.11
 * (6) [] - © Times Newspapers Ltd 2010, 28.03.11