What do people think to the statement "the majority of long term unemplyment is due to individual failings"

Answer 1

sounds pretty Reaganesque to me... in fact, it sounds a lot like "homeless by choice," as Ronnie used to say.

anyone who thinks the playing field is level for everyone has never been in dire straits.

Answer 2

I think the statement has nothing to do with reality.
Sure, its hard to find a job if you are a felon, or a drug user, or are physically or mentally challenged, but that's really a separate category, those people are no longer in the employment lines if they ever were employed, and those failings may not be something they have control over.
But for employed people who find themselves unemployed for a long time, it could just be because we have steadily eliminated manufacturing and factory jobs. All that's left in some areas are low paying service jobs, and that won't pay the mortgage on homes bought with the better paying jobs those people used to have. Whole cities and towns have seen the results of industry leaving, and there is no way to get it back. At 55 or 60 you can't just retrain and get another job, even if you could find someone to buy your home and move.
That statement doesn't come from an ordinary person, it sounds like it comes from a white collar person who has never missed a meal and now feels since hes never been hungry, hunger can't be that bad.

Answer 3

Ultimately, everything is due to individual failings. Society is, afterall, just a collection of imperfect individuals. Systems put in place to gaurd against such things can also end up causing problems of thier own.

Unemployment in the usual sense of not being able to find an employer is not always or even often the fault of the individual looking for work. The process of matching worker to job has become arcane and acrimonious, and anything from random chance to bias can leave a perfectly adequate worker unemployed for long periods.

In the broader sense of simply doing nothing, though, that would be an individual failing. Even if you can't find formal employment, chances are you can do /something/ useful with your time.

Answer 4

i think there is a valid argument for this - there is work out there if you care to look for it and don't mind what you do - some people are just too lazy or too arrogant to retrain - (i am having to do this at 50) but we have now reached the stage in the UK when we have 3 - 4 generations of claimers in one household because they would rather not work.

the counter argument applies in some areas in the UK where large factories and industries like mining have collapsed leaving people in a position where there is no work for many miles around - there homes have devalued because of this and they are stuck between the 'devil and the deep blue' so to speak.

the other problem is that once you find a job your benefit stops even if the money is much less - if this could be counterbalanced I'm sure many people would rather do some work for the sake of their dignity and self esteem.

perhaps the UKIP idea of people on benefit doing 'civic service until they find employment is a good solution to this.

that way - those that won't work don't get benefit.

Answer 5

I'm thinking it's an accurate statement. "the majority" meaning more than half, and longterm unemployment, either you are not looking, maybe too depressed; are aiming too far above or below your qualifications, poor interview skills, all of which are individual failings.
I can't think of a longterm unemployment problem that would not be due to individual failings. Maybe I stand to be corrected.

Answer 6

There have been some violent economic shifts in the US due to outsourcing, H1B, etc.

So in the case of regular bums that may be true, but not of people who have built a career to have it yanked out from under them.

Answer 7

I agree with it. I live in an area where unemployment is above the national average, but there is a constant shortage of farm workers. Try to figure that!

I've never considered any honest work "beneath me". I think that many do.

Answer 8

Because there are so many jobs in the UK, we need immigrants to fill them. Many of these immigrants don't speak English and are untrained. All that's required are individual qualities: a willingness to get to work on time, to work hard and to travel if necessary. If you can't get a job in the UK you are a failure.

Answer 9

true. anyone who wants to work, can. it is just a matter of providing for your family. which is more important, pride or family? easy for me. i would shovel pig poop if it helped me take care of the basics for my wife and kids but i would be looking for a step up.

Answer 10

I agree with it. It the reason for a lot of our problems in the US.