#EUDebate is a new content series from our Youth Ambassadors sharing their thoughts on the debate of Britain being in the EU and the affect a decision may have on young people and their employment. We will share thoughts and views from all sides of the story. This article is written by Jack Welch which demonstrates his view on how being in the EU provides young people with employment prospects. Next week we will publishing an opposing viewpoint and a neutral summary view.
By Jack Welch
Recent remarks by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan on the continuing debate of the UK’s membership with the European Union (EU) have only helped to reinforce the mutual benefits which young people of the UK are more outward looking, but with the additional economic advantages the EU’s opportunities can offer. Even in a survey conducted by The Independent, soon after last year’s tragic events in Paris last November, revealed a deep generational disparity with older voters, who are more inclined for a ‘Brexit’. Around 69% of 18-24s were in favour of staying in the Union, as opposed to 31% who wanted to leave. Naturally, one sample alone cannot be the definitive marker of general opinion, but generations since the UK entered the Common Market in 1973 have grown up with the development of what the EU offers. A passport which opens doors to a whole continent, opportunities to take your education abroad and even phone chargers which are universally compatible.
There is no ignoring the crisis of youth unemployment in some EU countries – Greece and Spain alone almost have a terrifying half of their young population without work – but common solutions by investment in programmes, like the Youth Guarantee, help with the input of British support. While figures might be more encouraging for the UK now, it was only back in 2010 a record 20% of 18-24s fell into the unemployment category, with a record proportion in the long term bracket. When fresh economic storms face the UK, which is always possible, it will be a lonely task to fix high levels of youth unemployment when there is no other partnership that invests as much for education and training as the EU.
The successor to the Youth in Action programme, which provides young people part of the EU opportunities in education and volunteering, Erasmus+, saw an impressive €1 billion invested in the UK alone for the next 7 years to provide up to 30,000 young people a year the chance to study and learn abroad. Over 15,000 students alone in the UK will study abroad thanks to the opportunities that are on offer, in particular for those at university. A study also illustrated that 55% of 18-24 would move abroad for the sake of work prospects alone. Many institutions and projects that support young people, in youth work and volunteering, also derive from the EU. The financial risk to universities, if EU students had to face the difficult barriers without common EU membership, could be very serious and the state of academic excellence will be all the poorer if the rich benefits of cultural exchanges are lost.
What is perhaps most frustrating in Morgan’s speech, who emphasises “the ability of young people to get on in life” with the EU is the disregard for those under 18 to vote and allow 16/17 year olds a say into a vote that will have a lifelong impact on their options as they move into the next steps of their education and into employment. When only 43% of those between 18-25 voted in 2015’s general election, it is vital more than ever to stress the specific advantages membership brings if they are to visit their polling station on the 23rd June.
