Job Cuts Affect Youth

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 1

Job Cuts Affect Youth

The tightening employment situation is now affecting adolescents in Christchurch —chiefly those whose secondary education is negligible and whose unkept appearance does not make them appealing as employees.

The District Vocational Guidance Officer (Mr W. J. Boyd) said that in the last few weeks his centre had had a steady stream of inquiries from young people who had left school as soon -as they could at 15 years of age, taken no advice on careers, and had lately been dismissed' or left for no good reason. “Some have been bn one job for four years, but seme have had many jobs in a short time,” said Mr Boyd. “We are not seeing any marked increase in inquiries from those who are better qualified," he said. Mr Boyd said there were “jobs around:” In the last fortnight the centre had placed or enabled boys out of work to obtain positions in painting, joinery, and panelbeating apprenticeships, men’s wear and grocery retailing, warehouse work, insurance, banking, scale mechanics, wool scouring, car cleaning, and car wrecking. “The car-wrecking lad was later offered a mechanical engineering apprenticeship, but replied: ‘No thanks. My boss is making twice .as much as the Prime Minister’," said Mr Boyd. Girls had been found jobs in dressmaking, nurse aiding, clerical, typing, floral, show manufacturing, hospital cleaning, clothing machinist, and retailing establishments. Mr Boyd said it . had sudt

denly become very clear to disappointed applicants that the young person of good presence had a considerable advantage in the present employment situation. “Those who are unqualified and unskilled but who are willing to accept training and a modest wage to start still have fair prospects,” said Mr Boyd.

Those causing concern were the drifters aged 15 to 17 years. One lad of 17 this month left a job at £l5 a week

because he was "not getting enough.” Mr Boyd said he now had a job at £4 10s a week.

Recent experience might stabilise such youngsters, said Mr Boyd. The Vocational Guidance Centre’s advice was:—

“Get as much education as you can. “Stay at school until you actually get a good job. “Don’t change jobs until you definitely have a new one.”