Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 Too Long; Didn't Read: Ep 4. We've got our work cut out
Aug 22, 2025
Hugo Rifkind, a witty broadcaster and journalist for The Times, teams up with Isabel Berwick, head of the Financial Times Working It brand, to dissect the reasons behind rising unemployment in Britain. They explore whether AI, early retirements, or other factors are driving joblessness. The conversation humorously tackles the challenges of modern work culture, from workplace burnout to the need for better job mobility. With a mix of satire and insightful commentary, they reveal the evolving expectations of younger workers and the absurdities of hiring practices.
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Unemployment Versus Joblessness
- Unemployment rates are higher than a few years ago but still low historically compared with the 1980s peak.
- Hugo Rifkind distinguishes unemployment from broader joblessness and inactivity when interpreting labour data.
Older Workers Drive Inactivity Rise
- The makeup of economically inactive people has shifted toward older workers, especially those over 50, since the pandemic.
- Many older people are on long-term sickness benefits or have taken early retirement, changing the inactivity profile.
Post-Pandemic Rise In NEETs
- NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training) jumped sharply after the pandemic, reaching over a million.
- Graduate recruitment and traditional entry-level roles are shrinking, reducing pathways into steady careers.
