Employment Spiral

On a national front the unemployment numbers are rising, whilst globally the number of people inhabiting the world has risen to 8 billion.

The increase in the overall population arrives at a time that the birth rate is dropping. The key factor is our longevity. The average lifespan globally is now 71 years, which is incredible.

So, we are ageing and needing more support as there are fewer people to fund it. There is a simultaneous reduction in the number of jobs for ‘working class’ people. In the UK there are 1.3 million job seekers, but it is estimated that there might be 9 million individuals aged between 16 and 64 not in employment. Some are ill, some are carers, and some have withdrawn themselves from the market post Covid and because of disillusionment with employers.

These are just a few circles that need to be squared in an incredibly complex world.

Who is going to generate wealth to look after the elderly? Can we help older people remain fit and well? Should we work longer? Can pensions provide adequately? Will there be mass migration to the rich west which might solve one or two problems but create more? Will some people never work, as better paid, higher skilled jobs make some comfortable to the exclusion of many more?

How will we feed and water the ever-increasing demographic?

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