How have young people’s experiences of unemployment changed since the 1980s?

Research teams from the University of Glasgow and the University of Leicester aim to explore unemployment, insecurity and vulnerability among young people during two key periods of economic instability. Researchers are investigating the experiences of unemployed young people during two of the worst periods for youth unemployment. 'The making of the 'precariat': unemployment, insecurity and work-poor young adults in harsh economic conditions' is a one-year research project which will examine youth unemployment in the mid-1980s and from 2009-11. The project is being carried out by research teams from the School of Education at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Labour Market Studies within the University of Leicester's School of Management, with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council. The project will explore how unemployment, insecurity and vulnerability among 18-25 year-olds have changed between two key periods of economic instability in the UK. In November 2011, youth unemployment hit the 1 million mark, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. This was a record high since comparable records began in 1992.