More than 100,000 young unemployed to go without benefits

Date
    May 21, 2014


More than 100,000 young people a year will be forced to survive without unemployment payments for at least six months under the Abbott government's controversial welfare changes.      >:(      

A breakdown of the Abbott government's own budget figures, provided to Fairfax Media, reveals it expects nearly 110,000 young people a year to be without work for six months and to be then moved on to a new work for the dole program.

Under the new rules, unemployed people under 30 will have to wait six months before receiving benefits. They would then undertake six months of work for the dole and be paid to do so. If they fail to find work or study during that period they would then face another six months without payments.      :o

The move is expected to save the government $1.2 billion over four years and will apply to new claimants from next year, with some exceptions.


Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has justified the changes to Newstart and Youth Allowance by saying young people "should be learning or earning".

"That's why we're going to tighten access to unemployment benefits," he said.

His office provided a detailed breakdown to Fairfax Media of how the savings will be reached.

A spokeswoman said about 700,000 people would be affected over the next four years by the changes. She said it expected about 200,000 people over that period to enrol in full-time study or training and to try to get student income support. A further 70,000 "would test their eligibility for other payments".

The remaining 430,000 people, over four years, "would serve their waiting period and then undertake work for the dole activities".

National Welfare Rights Network president Maree O'Halloran said the changes would hit middle-income families who would have to support young people, while people without family support faced a grim outlook. "It's inevitable some of these people will become homeless or destitute," she said.      :(

Ms O'Halloran said young people were already "bearing the brunt" of the changing nature of work. "You're going into a world of contract and casual labour and you don't have the safety net that everyone had before you," she said. "What I see is a tsunami hitting young people in this budget."      :(

Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King said the changes would consign 100,000 young people "to a life of poverty and disadvantage".

"We think it's extraordinarily callous that on the governments own predictions that they are going to see 100,000 young people every year who won't have any access to government support for six months."   

Ms King said there was a lack of investment to help young people.

"I think we've heard a lot about people going surfing or young people doing other things, which is really offensive when we see many young people who are desperate to work but find it extremely difficult to have their first job opportunity."

Youth unemployment has risen since the global financial crisis and is now more than 12 per cent. Since 2008 the average amount of time unemployed for young job-seekers has risen from about 16 weeks to nearly 29 weeks, according to a Brotherhood of St Laurence report.

Government figures from September 2013 show that for people under 30 on Newstart nearly three-quarters had moved off the benefit within a year. After six months, 53.3 per cent had exited Newstart.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/more-than-100000-young-unemployed-to-go-without-benefits-20140521-38ovo.html#ixzz32O2S0Q1v

I have two grandsons working in maccas.. one is 14...

it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school...

my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out.... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)

if only we had had a imcrook out there demanding money for nothing.. for us... WOW..

wonder where we would be today? > :o :o

Well said Cods, maybe you can give them some advice.  Tell them how they will pay their rent, and put food on the table.  Not to worry its only six months.     :-?          

wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:32am:

Well said Cods, maybe you can give them some advice.  Tell them how they will pay their rent, and put food on the table.  Not to worry its only six months.     :-?

oh look.. I completely forgot..

they didnt pay rent or buy food all those years ago..

what was I thinking. >:(

Yes what were you thinking?  Nothing for six months.  Yes of course, they can live on thin air.    ::)

I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing.
I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing.
All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it.
there is plenty of work to be done.
I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people.
then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts.

they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy.

win/win/win/win/win

wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:38am:

Yes what were you thinking?  Nothing for six months.  Yes of course, they can live on thin air.    ::)

They forget that in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, jobs were literally falling out of trees.

I suspect it's deliberate, in some cases., sheer ignorance in some others.

cods wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:26am:

I have two grandsons working in maccas.. one is 14... it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school... my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out.... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) if only we had had a imcrook out there demanding money for nothing.. for us... WOW.. wonder where we would be today? > :o :o

A lot didnt - they either died of starvation and the elements or they resorted to crime

SOB

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:44am:

I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win

Yes, you get a hard and unpleasant job done for nothing, and they get paid a pittance for doing it.

Yes, everyone wins.

Except the poor bloody worker on his totally inadequate 'dole'.

I can see why you'd like that.

Looks like the concept of live today like there is no tomorrow is coming back to bite this Y generation on the back side.

I am glad I taught my kids the age old concept of saving for a rainy day.

Humans are a wonderful species, they can adapt to all conditions. Its time to toughen up and do whats right for the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 

Yes, vote the Abbott government out, at the next election.   ;)

wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:04am:

Yes, vote the Abbott government out, at the next election.   ;)

I'm sure they will, if he doesn't get ditched beforehand.

cods wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:26am:

my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out....

Actually the government provided some essential food items during those bad years.

But you would gladly take us back to those terrible years where mothers had to watch their children die of malnutrition?

Re Cod:

There is a world of difference between a 14 year old working at the MACCAs during holidays, and a single income family under 30, and the main breadwinner just lost his or her job. 


Quote:

it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school

Perhaps, you should put yourself - or at pretend to in some real life situations where a young person lost their job.   This policy is absurd and impractical even for the Liberal party.


Quote:

my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out....

Guess what, our ancestors even managed to survive the cave man days against wild animals.  However, our society have progressed. 

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:44am:

I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win

Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed.

crocodile wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:19am:

aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed.

He's waiting for slave labour.

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:44am:

I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win

Um, that would simply be you getting the handout.

If you have work to be done, perhaps the equitable way to fix the problem would be for you to employ a few people.

Otherwise, you simply shift where the handout goes, hmm, actually no, you compound the handout (which you receive) by exploiting those who people who share your stated attitude would have excluded from a capacity to earn a living...

Work for the Dole is simply exploitation.

Phemanderac wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:23am:

aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Um, that would simply be you getting the handout. If you have work to be done, perhaps the equitable way to fix the problem would be for you to employ a few people. Otherwise, you simply shift where the handout goes, hmm, actually no, you compound the handout (which you receive) by exploiting those who people who share your stated attitude would have excluded from a capacity to earn a living... Work for the Dole is simply exploitation.

I'll put on a barby on Friday avo.
there are plenty of people who wouldn't exploit young people .  i'd glady chip in a bonus.
Its about creating a "flexible labour market"
If theres one thing that we need to work on it is this.
Its why government regulation and union intervention is so very very bad for the unemployed.
flexible, innovative solutions can create a win/win/win.

Sounds a bit like secret code, for cutting wages and conditions.      :(

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:22am:

crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:19am: aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed. He's waiting for slave labour.

Slave labour would be my neighbours who are slaves to woolworths and coles 15 cents a litre milk monopoly.

Still, I suppose the city socialists think its great that young people can sit on the couch all day, being paid by centrelink  and at least they have cheap milk.
no worries that the average farmer is now 57 and about to retire or hang himself ;) ;)
My sympathies go out to all those who work hard and , yes, work for the dole is a great system which will teach resilience , help the community and increase public goodwill towards the unemployed.
it should be mandatory for all on the dole and most on the disability pension.

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:33am:

Phemanderac wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:23am: aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Um, that would simply be you getting the handout. If you have work to be done, perhaps the equitable way to fix the problem would be for you to employ a few people. Otherwise, you simply shift where the handout goes, hmm, actually no, you compound the handout (which you receive) by exploiting those who people who share your stated attitude would have excluded from a capacity to earn a living... Work for the Dole is simply exploitation. I'll put on a barby on Friday avo. there are plenty of people who wouldn't exploit young people .  i'd glady chip in a bonus. Its about creating a "flexible labour market" If theres one thing that we need to work on it is this. Its why government regulation and union intervention is so very very bad for the unemployed. flexible, innovative solutions can create a win/win/win.

Flexible, innovative and equitbale solutions can create a win/win, without the equitable bit it will only lead to a win/lose.

As to the workplace relations issue. I think the problem is the one size fits all attitude from both the employee and employer perspectives. To me, small business kind of needs a different set of "regulations" to big business. The complexity of that idea though seems to be simply too scary for the self interested...

Work for the dole though is still, simply put, Government funded exploitation and handouts....

If you have work to be done, pay the person to do it.

If you don't like the "regulations" then start thinking outside the box, because any changes that suit your particular employer situation will only lead to someone else being able to cease and unfair advantage.

I would respectfully suggest start adding the word/idea/concept of equity into your suggested changes.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:22am:

crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:19am: aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed. He's waiting for slave labour.

And wants centrelink to pay for it.

crocodile wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 9:09am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:22am: crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:19am: aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed. He's waiting for slave labour. And wants centrelink to pay for it.

I help fund centrelink, they are my employees  :D

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 9:11am:

crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 9:09am: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:22am: crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:19am: aquascoot wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:44am: I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win Why can't you employ people to clear your paddock if it is needed. He's waiting for slave labour. And wants centrelink to pay for it. I help fund centrelink, they are my employees  :D

Nope wrong, they are unemployed people who get some financial support from Centrelink that ALL taxpayers fund...

Bottom line here is that this is the kind of thing that the Exclusives tried on back around the late 1700's early 1800's with convict labour, they demanded that the Government should pay for the convicts upkeep, but in effect at least, they would keep all the profits from the work provided. In short, a slave economy.

If you have work that needs doing then take some responsibility and pay for those doing the work...

cods wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:26am:

my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between

We had *SUSTENANCE PAYMENTS - distributed by the states

NO ONE without lifes basics was abandoned by government - as is the Abbott agenda


* ... unemployment benefits were introduced by PM Curtin, in 1945

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:44am:

I don't support anyone being told they will receive nothing. I also don't support anyone telling the community they will contribute nothing. All people must be given spots in a work for the dole program and it must be unlimited how long they can stay in it. there is plenty of work to be done. I have paddocks of south African fireweed to be cleared.send me a busload of young people. then on Friday avo , I ring centrelink and tell them to release the funds into the young peoples bank accounts. they get fit, they get paid, my cows are happy, i'm happy, the taxpayer is happy. win/win/win/win/win

Another vote for slave labor and corporate welfare.  ::) Another well rewarded rusted on conservative. Another bludger with his nose in the public feedbag taking his fill with blissful contempt for the plebs and the warm inner glow and contentment for being one of the elite, the landed gentry - 'ah, its the Natural Order I tell you'  ::).

And please, let have another round of applause for the forward thinking visionary conservatives  :o or not  ;) ;D.

(Opps, that's an oxymoron isn't it; "forward thinking visionary conservatives"  :-? :-[).

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:47am:

Slave labour would be my neighbours who are slaves to woolworths and coles 15 cents a litre milk monopoly. .

Don't you just love dirty crass capitalism as delivered by a small 'g' govt - and getting smaller ('ah sorry you voted for us but the Labor rifraf left no money in the treasury ansd we can't deliver on our promises you so foolishly took as a promise, a truth. More fool you.' - so says 'I've got a Plan' Mad Monk)  :D

The move is expected to save the government $1.2 billion over four years and will apply to new claimants from next year, with some exceptions.

Won't even touch the sides of the extra law enforcement required or the increase in soup kitchens that will be required.   ::)

This is such a totally stupid policy idea that it has to have some ulterior motive - such as making a big noise over something that will never pass while sneaking in something else while we are all watching the big noise.

The move is expected to save the government $1.2 billion over four years and will apply to new claimants from next year, with some exceptions.

Won't even touch the sides of the extra law enforcement required or the increase in soup kitchens that will be required.   ::)

This is such a totally stupid policy idea that it has to have some ulterior motive - such as making a big noise over something that will never pass while sneaking in something else while we are all watching the big noise.

cods wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:26am:

I have two grandsons working in maccas.. one is 14... it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school... my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out.... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) if only we had had a imcrook out there demanding money for nothing.. for us... WOW.. wonder where we would be today? > :o :o

Agreed. I also started at Maccas at 14.

Looks like these kids are just going to have to look for a job..... oh the in humanity of it ::)

   
     As pointed out on the ABC's The Drum tonight, the Abboort Gov is insisting that Youth "Earn or Learn", yet there are NOT enough jobs available to employ them all, nor are then enough course positions!
     If every course currently available, including all the meaningless or entertaining ones at TAFE etc, were filled there would still be a shortfall in excess of 100,000.
    So, not enough "Earn", not enough "Learn", means thousands upon thousands of desperate young people inflicted on our society, what do you think that is going to lead to?

100,000 unemployed go without benefits

while 23 $ billion is earmarked for a paid parental leave scheme


Makes sense.  Makes sense to Hockey and Abbott

Now pour another brandy, light up another cigar, put your feet up and laugh at the peasants squirming and bleating like bugs pinned to the wall

Great stuff, being in government

Send in the new free suits

Fire up the jets, there are friends' weddings to attend

Give scholarships to talentless politicans' kids

and bring on the pole-dancing pensioners

austranger wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 9:33pm:

As pointed out on the ABC's The Drum tonight, the Abboort Gov is insisting that Youth "Earn or Learn", yet there are NOT enough jobs available to employ them all, nor are then enough course positions!      If every course currently available, including all the meaningless or entertaining ones at TAFE etc, were filled there would still be a shortfall in excess of 100,000.     So, not enough "Earn", not enough "Learn", means thousands upon thousands of desperate young people inflicted on our society, what do you think that is going to lead to?

Gangs, crime, development of an underworld, lawlessness, despair, high suicide rate, civil war.....

Certain oppressed minorities here view their actions in the crime sphere as being part of a war against their oppressors..... not a big step to move to armed conflict.

What will inevitably happen is that some fools in government will try to force a lid down on these kids, using the law and the courts as happens in certain low economic areas now, and they will inevitably react in some way.  Not a far cry to suggest that many will arm themselves and seek justice in their own way.

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 10:24pm:

austranger wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 9:33pm:          As pointed out on the ABC's The Drum tonight, the Abboort Gov is insisting that Youth "Earn or Learn", yet there are NOT enough jobs available to employ them all, nor are then enough course positions!      If every course currently available, including all the meaningless or entertaining ones at TAFE etc, were filled there would still be a shortfall in excess of 100,000.     So, not enough "Earn", not enough "Learn", means thousands upon thousands of desperate young people inflicted on our society, what do you think that is going to lead to? Gangs, crime, development of an underworld, lawlessness, despair, high suicide rate, civil war..... Certain oppressed minorities here view their actions in the crime sphere as being part of a war against their oppressors..... not a big step to move to armed conflict. What will inevitably happen is that some fools in government will try to force a lid down on these kids, using the law and the courts as happens in certain low economic areas now, and they will inevitably react in some way.  Not a far cry to suggest that many will arm themselves and seek justice in their own way.

Thus paving the way for the US to invade us to bring us FREEEEEE DUMB

;D

Taipan wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 8:57pm:

cods wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 7:26am: I have two grandsons working in maccas.. one is 14... it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school... my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out.... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) if only we had had a imcrook out there demanding money for nothing.. for us... WOW.. wonder where we would be today? > :o :o Agreed. I also started at Maccas at 14. Looks like these kids are just going to have to look for a job..... oh the in humanity of it ::)

just how many jobs do you think maccas is handing out?   :D :D :D

cods wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 7:26am:

I have two grandsons working in maccas.. one is 14... it must be devastating to realise you wont get a hand out from the day you leave school... my god how did we manage??? how did they get through those dreadful depression years...two world wars...and god only knows how many in between   all without a govt hand out.... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) if only we had had a imcrook out there demanding money for nothing.. for us... WOW.. wonder where we would be today? > :o :o

you want to compare life today with life during the depression years?  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D way to go Cods, you never fail to make me laugh (at you)

;
Seriously, this is no joke

The whole thing's been engineered.  Starting in 1975, 30% of Aussie jobs and manufacturing was sent overseas. Since then, Aussie jobs and manufacturing have continued to leave these shores.  Add to that rampant outsourcing and importing of cheap labour

The fact is, there's been high unemployment in Australia for the past 30-odd years as most know.  The media, which is the propaganda-arm of government, along with the joke known as government, have been fudging unemployment figures.  In short, they've been lying, barefaced lying, cynically lying and laughing

Back in the 80s and 90s, parents attended special meetings where they were advised by alleged 'business people' to keep their kids in school.  One such org travelled under the title of BEAR

Parents struggling to understand why there were so few jobs pushed their kids hard to get them through high-school in order they'd have a chance of being accepted at university

But when the kids emerged from university there still weren't enough jobs to soak up school leavers.  And this has been going on for decades now.  Universities have been crammed to the gills with kids who by then had been at school since they were five years old.  Twenty years of their lives in many instances, had been spent indoors, under pressure to achieve.  They had no money and they hadn't had much life.  And no jobs awaited them to help pay off their student debt

There are forums now which are dedicated to suicide.  And most members of those forums are young people who feel like failures.  They've done everything asked of them all the way through, only to find themselves, in their 20s, with no hope, no future, nothing.  Just disappointment and low self esteem.  They're broke unless their family has money.  They're forced to live at home or live like beggars on welfare.  Poor kids.  All they want is to die and escape their depression and sense of futility