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Surviving Unemployment

Surviving Unemployment: Amy and Ian

Amy and Ian

BBC Radio 4 - Surviving Unemployment, Amy and Ian

Psychology graduate Amy meets Ian, who survived three years of unemployment in the 1980s.

26-year-old psychology graduate Amy is still unemployed and meets Ian in South Wales. He was out of work for three years during Thatcher's battle with the coal miners in the 1980s.

Covid-19 is ravaging the UK's job market and as the furlough scheme winds up, the outlook for many jobseekers is bleak. 

Some forecast that we could see up to four million people out of work in 2021 - unemployment figures we haven't seen since the 1980s. 

So what can today's young people learn from those who found themselves out of work during the Thatcher years?

26-year-old Amy has just graduated with a Masters in psychology. 

She was hoping to be well on track to securing her dream graduate job, but has applied to over 50 positions with no luck. 

She's meeting Ian in South Wales, who was out of work for three years during Thatcher's battle with the coal miners in the 1980s.

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Three newly jobless young people learn from survivors of the 1980s unemployment crisis.

Covid is ravaging the UK's job market and the outlook for young jobseekers is bleak. But what can they learn from those who found themselves out of work during the Thatcher years?

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