News Release

Embargo: not for publication or broadcast before 00:01 am 29 March 2001

Jobless young risk downward spiral of poor health and unemployment

Young people are at high risk of social exclusion if they become trapped in a downward spiral of worsening health and unemployment. Health problems make it more difficult to find jobs, and, in turn, unemployment makes it more difficult to stay healthy.

A new report by Policy Studies Institute, Youth Unemployment, Labour Market Programmes and Health, provides a comprehensive review of recent British and international research and looks at the relationship between unemployment and health problems among young people.

Key findings are that:

• Unemployed young people experience more health problems than those who are employed, including lower levels of general health, more anxiety and depression, higher rates of smoking and higher suicide rates.
• Young people with health problems have less success in finding jobs compared with those in good health. They are also more likely to lose or leave their jobs.
• Unemployment can exacerbate existing health problems, or lead to new ones.
• Financial stress and material deprivation are partly responsible for poor health among the unemployed.
• Jobless young people are also often deprived of opportunities to take control of their lives, make structured and varied use of their time, and to see themselves as people who are valued.
• Young people who lack support from family members, friends and others appear to be at particular risk of health problems during unemployment.
• Young people with a history of problems and deprivation are particularly vulnerable to experiences of unemployment and poor health.
• The relationship between unemployment and health is highly complex, with poor health being both a cause and a result of unemployment. Labour market and health interventions have the potential to make positive inputs that reverse the downward spiral of poor health and unemployment, although there is currently relatively little research available concerning the specific effects of labour market programmes on participants' health.

The author of the study, Jane Lakey, says: "Employers are looking for confident, healthy and competent young people to join their workforces. Yet those who are unemployed are at risk of losing their confidence, becoming depressed and anxious, and missing out on opportunities to increase their competence and skills.

These young people need support to maintain their confidence and to start back on the road to achieving their work ambitions. Employers as well as government need to look at the contributions they could make to the improvement of health and well-being among our young people".

Contact: Jo O'Driscoll on (020) 7468 2269 or 07802 181249

Notes to editors

1. Youth Unemployment, Labour Market Programmes and Health: a review of the literature is published by PSI on 29 March, priced £15.00. Review copies are available from the PSI publications department on (020) 7468 2319.
2. The research was commissioned by the Department of Health in order to inform an evaluation of the health impacts of the New Deal programmes. Researchers from the Policy Studies Institute are currently analysing data from a longitudinal survey of New Deal entrants to explore the impact of this programme on participants' health.
3. PSI is a registered educational charity (no 313819) and has no association with any political party, pressure group or commercial interest.