Young people aged 18 to 24 are more optimistic about their future than those aged 25 to 34, with young women least hopeful about job opportunities and careers, a survey published on Tuesday finds.
The study from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) finds housing, job prospects, youth mental health services and political representation are “critical issues” for young people as a general election looms. Conducted by Red C research and marketing, its findings laid bare the “disconnect between government policies and the real challenges” faced by teenagers and young adults who continue to feel “unsupported and overlooked”, said the council’s spokeswoman Kathryn Walsh.
The National Youth Council of Ireland, which is the representative body for voluntary youth organisations across the State, commissioned the research which asked 1,006 nationally representative adults – not just young people – their views on the issues facing young people and how successful government was in addressing them. The survey was conducted online between August 16th and August 21st.
Asked whether life was “easier” today for young people than in recent decades, 57 per cent disagree, with women (66 per cent) and parents (63 per cent) disagreeing most strongly. Among 18- to 24-year olds the rate of disagreement is 56 per cent, rising to 63 per cent among both 25- to 34-year olds and 35- to 54-year olds.
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Most (82 per cent) agree the housing crisis impacts young people more than other groups, and most (55 per cent) rate access to housing for this cohort as “very poor”.
On employment and unemployment supports for young people, and whether they were “generally good”, 43 per cent disagree and just under half (49 per cent) agree.
A marked gender difference emerged on access to job opportunities for young people “in the local area” with 38 per cent of men agreeing they were poor or very poor, and 61 per cent of women agreeing.
The rising cost-of-living is seen to disproportionately impact young people, while effectiveness of government response on this is rated poorly. Young people are disproportionately affected by rising cost-of-living – 74 per cent agree or strongly agree, with 21 per cent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.
Almost half of under-24s say access to youth work services is poor, with just over a third (35 per cent) rating access to services in their area as “good”, and 41 per cent describing it as “poor”. A total of 72 per cent agreed with the statement: “There is a lack of awareness about youth work services among politicians.”
A significant majority (81 per cent) would like to see more young people represented in the Dáil.
Ms Walsh said: “The next government must prioritise youth work and young people by establishing robust youth structures and policies to address the challenges faced by young people in Ireland. This way government can ensure that the voices of young people are heard and their needs are met, fostering a supportive environment for their development and future contributions to society.”
The National Youth Council of Ireland was calling for “immediate action to address these critical issues, starting with increased funding for youth work services and a commitment to strengthen youth representation in government decision-making”, said Ms Walsh. “The findings from this poll will be used to inform NYCI’s upcoming manifesto, which will outline key policy changes aimed at creating a better future for young people in Ireland.”
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