Levels of unemployment in Redbridge have soared to an all time high as it emerged that a staggering 35.5% of the working age population, residing in Redbridge, are unemployed, higher than both the London and national percentage. Furthermore, a shocking 23,370 work benefit claims were made, begging the question, what exactly has gone so badly wrong and why is society no longer working?

Speaking to Miss Zara Islam, a third year student studying English at Brunel, about what she thought of current unemployment prospects, she said “It’s absolutely horrifying really, especially knowing that I'm paying more than £3,000 a year on university and yet still face such high risks of unemployment; it, to be quite frank, just devastates me”.

The JNSA report investigating into the needs of Redbridge’s population highlighted how 29% of the working age population are economically inactive; with females being a particularly vulnerable group in terms of unemployment levels. These figures coincide with national figures, coming as no surprise when considering that the current economic climate has led to millions of jobs being cut nationwide, yet what exactly has Redbridge council been doing about it?

With there being a 33% increase in job seekers allowance claimants between the ages of 18 to 24 in Redbridge and 29% being economically inactive, perhaps Redbridge’s council should really be tackling the supposed employment apathy. This is likely to stem from the attitude harboured by many that certain jobs (the ones available) are beneath them and although this may indeed be the case depending on their skill levels; surely having a job is better than having no job at all.

This attitude, where more people are making benefit claims and less people are actively searching for employment appears to be the true problem and in tackling this, perhaps then Redbridge can be once more return to a truly working society.

 

 

 

 

Anisa Chowdhury Woodford County High School