Elmbridge graduates flee Surrey to find work
7:00am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Laura Proto
Polled: Hayley Fox would consider working abroad
A lack of jobs and fears about their future are driving young people away from Surrey in search of work abroad, a new survey has found.
Research by investment experts Skandia found that 30 per cent of 20-somethings were planning to ditch the UK in search of job satisfaction and financial security.
Hayley Fox, 18, from Walton, was among those polled. She said: “I would definitely consider working abroad I think it would be a really good experience with the job situation here as it is at the moment.
“I think you should just leave your options open if you find something you should just go for it.”
About 40 per cent of unemployed people in the UK are aged 16 to 25 according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), with half a million young people taking more than six months to land a job.
Surrey graduates are also suffering, with only 54 per cent of new graduates in work, according to the latest available statistics.
In total, 2.3 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds in Elmbridge claimed unemployment benefit in August, higher than the district’s overall claimant rate of 1.3 per cent for 16 to 64-year-olds.
Nathaniel Saunders, 22, from Weybridge said: “Ideally when I am 30 I would like to have a family, have a house and have a good job but realistically I know that might not be the case if I stay in this country.”
