The number of unemployed 16-24 year olds is four times as high in some rural areas as in large cities such as Liverpool and Manchester. Although government bodies have been quick to blame youths themselves for not wanting to work in industries such as agriculture which are considered ‘uncool’, career advisors have pointed out that the fast growing problem of rural exclusion is having a greater impact on employment prospects for rural youths.

Youth unemployment has been a sore subject for the current government and featured prominently in the last Prime Minister’s question time before the parliamentary recess, which took place last week. Personnel advisers in rural regions have warned that austerity cuts have hit careers guidance hard and that many young people may not be receiving the guidance they need.

In rural Shropshire, agriculture and horticulture studies at the county’s land based colleges fill up each year and training opportunities are snapped up rapidly, however, aspects of rural life mean it is not always possible for graduates to secure employment.

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Although farmers are appreciative of the help and are, in most cases, open to apprenticeships organised by groups such as Lantra, a government funded body which seeks to address skills gaps in a number of UK industries, including agriculture, they cannot usually guarantee a job afterwards.

Farmers in the UK are struggling under financial pressures and operate in a fiercly competitive market; the latest data released by the EU today shows agricultural incomes are rising at a lower rate than inflation. Therefore, not all farmers can commit to taking on an apprentice as, at a weekly minimum wage of £95 per week, they may not be able to afford the expense.

Local government letting young people down

Public transport in rural regions can also prove to be an impediment. In remote areas especially, transport does not run between certain hours. In the summer, work will start on farms at dawn and young people requiring training may not be able to get to a farm unless they are already nearby.

Whilst some councils and NGOs run programmes such as Wheels to Work, to help young people secure private transport in such cases, these can only be of so much assistance, as they mean youths will spend a large proportion of their living allowance on fuel and maintenance of a moped. Farms, by their very nature, are remote and access can become treacherous for young people travelling to work by moped during the winter months.

Government research reveals need for support

Recent research by Lantra identified skills gaps in agriculture and found that there is a need for greater business advice, guidance and support in several areas of the industry, including risk forecasting, sales and marketing and ICT and e-commerce. The lantra research showed that, at the time of investigation, 7 per cent of businesses within the organisation’s remit had vacancies.

Lantra’s Agriculture Partnership Manager Alastair Johnston said there is a pressing need to ensure young people are aware of training and opportunities. He stated, "We need to advertise the fact that there are a number of opportunities available which could lead to good jobs with career progression and attractive salaries.

"A herdsman [sic.] could be on £45-50,000 a year and have a house and a car, though this job requires a high level of skill."

The Lantra spokesperson also alluded to an "attitudinal" issue – that young people are reluctant to seek out work they see as 'boring' – but assured that 35 to 45,000 new opportunities would be opening in agriculture over the next decade.

He stressed that changing the perception of agricultural work would attract a diverse range of newcomers to the agriculture profession. If more people were aware of the specialist skills required in parts of the agriculture industry and that it is an information and research based line of work, university leavers and those leaving other professions may be more attracted to the industry.

However, it remains unclear what help will be available for those young people who have trouble accessing training or who are lacking in experience and are in need of work now. 

Younger generation scapegoated by government and media

That young people must be made aware of the opportunities and highly skilled positions available in agriculture is perhaps the only subject on which policy makers and those working in the field agree (be they educators or workers in less metaphorical fields). However, with austerity cuts severely affecting careers guidance, and the promise of more cuts to come, it is unclear how this is will be addressed.

One personnel advisor from Shropshire warned that there are implications policy makers and commentators may not have taken into account when looking at youth employment and admitted that the majority of youngsters struggle to find full-time employment after completing their studies.

They advised that cuts to benefits and services, including transport, local amenities and careers guidance services, had also narrowed the range of opportunities and information available to young people in rural regions.  The advisor said that the loss of EMA has had an effect on students and potential students and surmised that, "In reality, young people have been hit in every direction."

Although a mediatised image of young people exists, which conveniently portrays youngsters as unwilling to do 'boring' work or work in the cold, the advisor said that, as with all stereotypes this image is baseless but dangerous. The view put forward in the media may affect potential employers’ perceptions of young people.

The advisor concluded, "This government has taken everything from our youths and is blaming them for it."

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