Next time you write a media brief to target the under 25s remember these numbers

The paper “Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations” is like most publications from the EU, stuffed full of gobbledygook and with its own agenda to increase the role of the EU. However, these papers do often contain some half decent analysis and this one is no exception.

First the gobbledygook. How about this sentence? “This means that the admission mechanisms for third country nationals must be managed effectively and transparently and proactive integration and equal opportunities policies must be ensured in order to achieve a balance between the respective rights and responsibilities of migrants and host societies”.

Now to the data, in Europe:

The unemployment rate for under 25s was 17.9% in December 2004, compared to 7.7% for those aged 25 or over.

19% of 16-24 year olds are at particular risk of poverty. Even higher than the number people aged 65 years or above (17%).

In 2002, some 16.5% of 18-24 year olds left school with no qualifications.

Scary numbers. Dick Stroud www.20plus30.com