The Outdated World of Work
In the news:
An “anxious generation” of young people is struggling to adapt to the outdated world of work, according to the government’s jobs adviser.
Alan Milburn, a former Labour health secretary, will say this week in a report that businesses must adapt by offering more flexibility and mental health support for young people to stave off an “economic catastrophe.”
It’s interesting. We’ve finally been heard. It has taken generations of objecting to work but Gen Z might have finally broken through and pushed over the line the idea that Wage Slavery isn’t all it cracked up to be.
That the UK government are worried about “economic catastrophe” tells us an interesting thing. That they know we can say no. That they know we can walk away, escape. If we did this en-masse, there probably would be an economic catastrophe. And there should be one really. We need to stop growing, stop fretting about GDP, and start measuring value differently.
“Almost 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds,” the article says, or “about one in eight” are “not in education, employment or training” because they’ve secured doctor’s orders to stay at home.
Said jobs advisor has observed: “a rising tide of mental ill-health, anxiety, depression [and] neurodiversity” is driving the abandonment of economic inactivity.
Not to imply than a single one of these kids is faking mental ill-health (who could possibly feel mentally well given the squandered world they stand to inherit?) but, you know, one probably could. Escape route identified! Wibble.
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About Robert Wringham
Robert Wringham is the editor of New Escapologist. He also writes books and articles. Read more at wringham.co.uk