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The best thing about this show were the comments of the Grandma of the boy MJ?. It was refreshing to hear an older person being honest about how young kid's are being exploited by an increasingly casualised labour market.
The biggest myth of new labour is that they have ended the unemployment problem of the Thatcher era. The stupidity of Labour in allowing mass immigration from Eastern Europe and African countries is biggest sell out of working class interests ever.
Mark Pinckney, Grays

Excellent programme you showed that with the right approach these people can be motivated to find work. I run a scheme that applys this very person centered approach, We have saved the government around a million pounds in the last three years in returning benefit claiments that have been written off by the DWP, back to sustainable paid employment. The government are poised to throw another 400 million pounds at another doomed scheme that is aimed at upskilling workforces of the future. My scheme is not funded by anyone but we continue to fund ourselves year on year and petition the government to come and see what we do and replicate our process in other parts of the contry. If they funded us for every 100k they spent they would gain around 350k in saved benefits.
Peter Fenwick, Safford

Thank-you for bringing this problem to light. I am a single Mum with a son of 23 at home just the same no hope of a future staying bed and up till all ours i also have a younger son 9. Everyone I speak to abnout my elder son says i should throw him out and let him fend for himself. But how would I feel if he then turned to a life of crime. I know it would be his decision but i would still feel to blame. The New Deal is no longer in progress as unemployment is no longer in the headlines the benefit office don't care. So long as they can get these youngsters off the unemployement figures into any job whether they stay with or not. Gordon brown or Tony Blair said that they needed training and they do but where is it?
Once again Thank-you
Julie coles, Andover hampshire

Yes for sure its a very bad system where there is no help from the government at all , and many of these people will not work for 5.35 a our in a job which has no future would you i would definitely not. New deal its a bad deal i say
nihaar , preston

I think the real problem is immigrants, they take all the jobs and therefore school leavers and people who get laid off have no jobs too go for, I think the only solution for lack of jobs is letting less foriegn people in the country
sproat, swindon

I know that this is a big problem but how about those that have been to University for three years and still can not get a job because they don't have any experience. I have received good grades for my law degree, masters and bar course but still am not considered to have any exeprience and my 6 years studying have been a waste of time.
Christine Dalby, Bath

Even for a graduate , there is no insulation from youth unemployment. Now the fees are soaring - who would want to go to university now so there is more of a risk of ending up unemployed?
Ahmed, Guildford UK

The programme was good as it showed that the problems of unemployment and 'NEETs' are a two way street. I myself know the pitfalls of 'temping'. You're paid less, they have no intention of keeping you on and they can sack you if they decide they simply don't like you. Also not many people are quick to have a go at big companies who prefer to take on cheap foreign labour, refuse to give entry level positions and decide to 'offshore' at the drop of a hat making hundreds of people redundant.
Rob, Eastbourne

An excellent programme but where are the employers willing to offer jobs to 16-18 year olds who have been failed by the education system?
Val Richards, Rochester, Kent

I am so glad that finally a documentry is highlighting the problems we have with regards to helping the unemployed find jobs. I watched Panarama last night and my thoughts were " at last someone is bringing the problem to the goverments attention. School Leavers should all go on a customer service course and know how do out together a cv.My parents taught me that any job i took was a good thing, if young people can show on a cv that they have shown willingness to work and not been unemployed they will have more chance of finding employment.Job Seekers allowance should only be paid to people who have worked and have contributed already by paying national insurance.I have my own company which i started from scratch and my first job when i left school was an office junior, i have worked behind bars, done car washing etc.I think employers should be paid to train people from the goverment. I have trained all my staff and now some earn in of excess of £64k a year, all the tax i have make the government , wheres my commission for keeping people off the dole.
Jane Houghton Managing Director, stockport in cheshire

Hello, I myself am unemployed and was watching your programme last night, personally i think that it didnt reflect the true reasons why so many people are unemployed. I myself have been trying so god damn hard looking for work, I check papers, internet and connections, but when i do have interviews, I am never experienced enough or I am to young, Iam only 17 and I am not yet old enough to go to the job centre to go onto most agencys that companies select a great deal of there staff from, personally I think you should have also reflected on this problem, given the oppertunity that them four boys had I would of tried my hardest and jumped for the chance for proper help! Not all people looking for work has that attitude I also thought that to make the situation fair you could of had 2 boys and 2 girls. Because I felt that it was aimed at boys mainly. Thank you for taking the time to read my email. Emma.
Emma Perrin, Rochester Kent

I have previously worked with young people, who through lack of motivation cannot seem to find employment. However what Panorama did neglect to mention on last nights showing was that when a young person leave`s school with or without GCSE`s they can enter on to Training program with a Training Provider also known as E2E Entry to Employment, these services are there to help young people into Employment by updating their skills whether including barriers to employment or into education. these agencies can be entered via Connexions, the young peoples service.
Debbie Emery, Rotherham , south yorkshire

Your programme about 4 unemployed young people was dumbed down, shallow, dull and even resorted to using some 'easy pickings' young people who you could not fail to make progress with. You even got your facts wrong. You should point out that most young people are not claiming nor entitled to benefits and where they are they can only receive them for a limited period. You misled the viewer witht he Jeremy vine intro and 'outro' Why dont you go back to intelligent insight into issue rather than this pappy trash tv - stop trying to compete with ITV and Channel 4 on their trash tv terms
jim simpson

Thanks for highlighting a massive problem which seems to be being ignored. Is this a predominantly white, British Male problem? I began researching this and found it a common problem whether they were low achievers, had "A" levels or degrees. Also once a young person is over the age of 18 no-one is prepared to help and advise given to parents seems to be, "All you can do is kick them out onto the streets." What does this say about what is happening in our society?
Sandra Thomas, Sheffield

Congratulations to Vivian White and the programme team for an astonishingly revealing edition. Whoever thought up the 'apprentice' device is to be congratulated for finding a brilliant new way into the current national debate about the young underclass. How good it is to see 'Panorama' getting back to its traditional, public-service role of examining mainstream subjects. More like this, please!
Geoff, Blackheath, London

I am an Australian who came to this country fresh out of high school. I got a working visa and spent my first week applying for probably atleast 50 jobs as well as registering with all of the recruitment agencies in the area I stayed. By the next week I was in a job and I have never been payed under £7.50 an hour. I do not understand how come some people have such a hard time finding work, maybe this is a bigger problem such as not enough jobs in their local area.
Jessica, Aberdeen

Speaking as a 45 year old, I have currently been in work for 7 years and hope to continue but cut backs will be made in November for my grade of Admin Assistant. I work 1.00-9.00pm thankfully with a public sector employer but misery of unemployment memories return. This is the longest continuous period I have been working and want to continue through to 60. I have controlled epilepsy, but health aside, those who have always been in a job and/or pay they want can never understand what it is really like. Your programme showed both sides and NEET's as they are called on benefit should be asked to give their choice of job whether, retail, factory, office etc. It simply does not work for employer or employee to force them in anywhere and those who say this is how it should work, should try one of those jobs themselves for several months. I thought not. Your programme proved that people should be allowed to choose and how that works off best such as one preferring retail, another factory work etc.
Employers should stop looking down on the unemployed or disabled and providing those on JSA (including disabled as I was previously) are willing to take up necessary training to get into work they have an interest in, that should not affect their benefit. The government should stop the benefit trap problem especially those with many children. Only those who are not prepared to try anything, should benefit be reduced by £5.00 each week after one year but reduction of benefit would only stop if in work for at least 6 months (employer would confirm if work was short term or made redundant). Those claiments would then feel they may as well try for something they have an interest in and would stop all unemployed being tarred with same brush. Thank you.
[e-mail], Norwich, NR7 9TW.

I watched Panorama on 3rd September regarding young people seeking benefit whilst unemployed. I am 22 and have recently been made redundant by the company I worked for due bankruptcy. I used to work 50+ hours per week at this company and now find myself unemployed. So, reluctantly, I phoned JobCentrePlus to try and claim Jobseekers Allowance for a few weeks until sorting out another job. After several phone calls they determined I was entitled to...nothing! Not one penny of Jobseekers Allowance, despite working hard and being quite willing to work - after all, I didn't choose to become unemployed! So, why are these idle kids being given benefits every week when, by their own admission, they can easily 'blag' their fortnightly interviews and have no intention of getting a job? I'd quite happily work but can't and the state couldn't care less. It seems it pays to be and idle waste of space in this country, that way you get all the government support you need!
Adam Haynes, Grantham, UK

All of these people many of them making excuses for not working dispite all of the help and encouragement offered to them, and all of the advice and support offered to imigrant workers, however I am a mum of two and have trained whilst my children have been very small, and have managed to train up to degree level but i cannot get a job anywhere and there are no services avalible to help or support me, because I do not claim any benifits as my husband has a reasonably good job. how unfair is that !
Tanya Richards, Newport,Gwent

Where were the girls in this weeks Sept 3rd Panorama's programme? Are girl's better focussed at finding work? Understandably not everyone can do well in school so apprenticeships are available for them, but they must make an effort, as these guys found out.
Helen, Reading

Good programme but this is only tv. Its make a good TV night but I have been bring up my family and now want yo get back to work. I have been looking for 3 years without success. I.m not able to find work aroud my kids school hours and holiday, as childcare is so expensive. This is not real life.
J Ailing, London

Although the programme was more positive than most coverage of young people on television I worry that a sample of 6 males all living on estates near to each other in the same city is a basis for comparison of national data or the attitudes of all young people who are NEET.
It would've been nice to have seen comments or the work of organisations which are helping young people transition into EET featured in the programme as it appeared that although government were aware of it, it looked like nothing was being done....
As I said before I don't think it represented young people in a negative light but to any young person or the parent/guardian of a young person who might've been watching... Where was the use in it??? It could've been a great tool to promote the ways in which young people can progress into EE...
Thomas Mitchell, Leicester, England

I thought the show made a lot of valid points though it's unfortunate nothing will change in time to save many of these youngsters from a lifetime of non achievement.
One other point i'd like to make is regarding the negative sides of the New Deal scheme. While trying to find employment as an apprentice mechanic I could not find work because of my age. The only apprentice positions for people over 18 at the jobcentre was advertised for people on New Deal since the company can have half there wages paid for 6 months. So how is it fair that I am turned down for one of very few jobs which I could apply for on the basis that I have not been unemployed for long enough? I want to work so should I have sat about for 6 months then hoped it came back up? Very unfair.
Mark Carroll, Edinburgh, Midlothian

I have just completed a teacher training course and have been unable to gain employment as a teacher. I went to the jobcentre to sign on today, and had an interview this afternoon. I was successful in gaining this position. It really isn't that hard!! Young people are getting too much of an easy ride and adults who are older are letting them "play" the system. This was evident throughout the program!
Tanya Watkinson, Grimsby UK

The Real Apprentices - How can these boys be expected to lead normal lifestyles, bed early, up early ready for work. Life is bleak and aimless when there are such limited opportunities for them. Only graduates stand a chance of a half decent job. Would a boy have considered working in a cafe half a century ago? It is utterly unsuitable work for a boy and utterly boring. The factory job - he would never have got it without the help of Panarama. My own son suffers supermarket work filling shelves but does it because at least he feels he gets physical exercise-its part of his fitness plan.Anyway it is all he can get. He knows he could never consider marriage or leaving home on the wage he earns. I have every sympathy for the youth of today. Life is bleak, the future is bleak.
Pauline Hallworth, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

I have been watching your program on youth unemployment. I have run a small firm for over thirty years. We have trained more than twenty young men over the years. As a small firm today we are unable to take on people betweem the age of sixteen and eighteen due to a change in the law on employing young people. There are a lot of small firms who would like to offer jobs but are unable to due to red tape these changes have taken place over the last ten years.
Charles Burke, Pentre Mid-glam

Wow: 25 years ago I left university with a promise of a job and two years later finally found work in a differernt industry. I was moved to tears when the guys found work ...BUT... then a chilling realisation: if the world of work is so ephemeral and reward so sporadic I can begin to see why binge drinking and all-nighters are so 'in vogue'. I had assumed it was the same old people week in week out when perhaps its just this week's lucky ones.....
Stephen Slack, Yateley, UK

I was captivated by tonights programme featuring unemployed youngsters trying to get jobs. I am also looking for work. I am nearly 23, I have 9 good GCSEs, 3 A Levels and a Degree. I was undertaking a PGCE in Secondary Music which involved a lot of hard work during placements at secondary schools. I was punctual, hard working, in fact I worked so hard when I found I was struggling I couldn't understand why, the only reason was that this job was not for me and I had to either leave the course or fail, so I left.
I have now been looking for work for 5 months although I am not one of the unemployment statistics. Due to my forward planning and saving for the future I do not qualify for Job Seekers Allowance so I am on my own. I have not even had an interview as a result of any of my hundred or so (I have lost count how many) applications. It just goes to show that in modern Britain, not even good qualifications and hard work can guarentee even the most basic of job.
Josephine Ellis, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

An excellent programme! It was disappointing to see how easily discouraged these young people were and how their reality clashed with their expectations. Yes, it does appear too easy to do the fifth (?)option ie nothing - and this is not just for the young people but no doubt many of the maturer unemployed too!
derek francis, Manchester

Hi there, I just watched this episode of Panorama after my mum called me through to see what it was about. I am 18 and unemployed myself, I have only ever had one job, 2 years ago. My mum (Single parent) is in studies herself and struggles financially. I left my college course earlier this year... and since then I have been lazing around not doing much, not bothering to even try and find a job, deciding my options with not much entheusiasm. I decided I won't rejoin College.
So my option is clear now, work. Today I took the step of going to Connexions, and will be doing my CV soon, and also looking activley for a job to get myself out there and see what happens next.
I have not even got a job yet, but I am just getting up on my feet. This program gave me some hope, which is a huge boost for me right now. To others that have yet to get off thier feet, I can only say... when every day is the same, you have to realize that it will keep on that way until you do something about it, even the smallest change can make the biggest difference.
So tomorrow I will apply for a job I found interesting on the JobCentre website.
Justin Zouadi, Fowey United Kingdom

Some good points were made in this program about it being hard for the young to find employment. I am 25, Unemployed claiming JSA with a family to support, the job centres do not give adequate help and advice to the unemployed, they just try to shove you in the first job that comes along regardless of your needs whether it be financial or medical. In my case financial and slight medical. Its not always the case of not wanting to get out of bed, its not having anything to get out of bed for, Nobody wants a dead end job unless they just need a little more income and nobody wants to be in and out of short term jobs (that does not look good on your cv). I have just recently enroled onto a college course for welding and fabrication - only for the job centre to tell me i will have to give it up to take employment even if it be - and i quote "a cleaning position". So basicaly i've pulled my finger out to gain a qualification to help me back to work only for the job centre to tell me I've wasted my time. I don't want sympathy i just want to get into a job that i want to do and is worth getting up for.
Daniel Viney, Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, England

i have worked as a carpenter and joiner for 20 years, and in that time served a 6 year apprenticeship with a local family based company. I have tried to encourage youngsters to work for me in recent years so i can expand my activities, but i am fighting the system just as much as these poor young lads are to get motivated to work!!!!! I risk to much to give a young hopefull a chance. But the worst thing of all is that I have witnessed many companies with the wealth to risk but won't see the investment of the youngsters through. When will this country make better efforts to train our youths for skilled work? The responsibility is in the hands of the companies that have wealth and it is up to the goverment to make sure they do it right....
stephen sims, southend on sea ,essex

There are two main problems stopping these kids getting jobs. Aged 17 I was in a similar position and had to work "on the agency" for a year before going University. Luckily I didnt face the problems these guys faced but it was tough even back then. (1996) Immigration The competition for young kids getting jobs now is scandalous. This is mainly because of immigration from hungry, ambitious workers from East Europe. Employment Agencies I know of employment agencies in my town who will only employ Eastern Europeans because they work harder for less money. The agency bosses have also bought houses for them to live in.
steve, Corby, Northants.

Well done. An excellent perspective on some of the complicated reasons that ' NEETS' find it difficult to gain useful employment and fall into the cycle of rejection, inactivity and the 'dole trap'. What the lads needed was exactly what your presenter did for them and it was to offer tangible help and direction. Something that Job Centre Plus should be doing but doesn't, instead of just processing young people onto the next stage. Job Centres have been forced to abdicate their role as job finders and providers by the government in order to save money to the numerous 'job agencies' that have sprung up in recent years. Only when young people have been unemployed for 6 months do they get a little bit of help from JC Plus and start the cycle all over again. Where would the lads find out about BMW, through a job agency? I doubt it. Most of the agencies only deal with short term employment solutions and do not get young people 'proper' jobs or careers. Yes the lads needed motivating and thats what your presenter did. Why cant the Job Centres offer that little bit of extra help like they used to do? We cant just blame the lads, their parents or society on this one.
Kevin Stork, Barnetby, England

I work in recruitment and last night's show gave a real insight to the vast majority of 18 - 22 year olds in the uk who've left school with minimal qualifications; they are lazy and have no real desire or motivation to work; 85% of my temporay staff are Polish and they oputstrip their UK counterparts in every way; untill we stop the "easy" benefits system nothing will ever change;good to see a few of those last night actually get some work though!
Nik Hill, Gloucester

I understand the lads' predicament. My son had problems finding work when he left school. It was that very same situation for him; employers only want people with experience.How are youngsters supposed to get that experience? He couldn't even get a Saturday job as preference seems to be given to non-British applicants. He is now taking an apprenticeship. Employers should be encouraged to take part in apprenticeship schemes.
c. Townsend, New Malden UK

The programme seemed to put the view that the problem was with the young people concerned but with a million of them, nationally, this must show a systematic failure somewhere rather than of personal attitudes. This question was not asked. That as many as 40% of school leavers are claimed to have problems with English and arithmetic is another system failure. If there is to be true opportunity surely there should be some assessment and advice given, such as to take up further education and training, rather than just putting the unemployed into any old, low-paid, temporary, monotonous job. By their nature these 'jobs' do not have promotion and career prospects. Neither are there generic 'jobs' available: they require specific skills and usually 'experience', which means no training will be given. Vacancies are generally 'time expired' and you don't get replies¿so if you don't get a reply by a certain date you know you haven't got the job. Interviews are rare. My own experience with agencies is that they offered me a job outside of the area I told them I was prepared to work in and then complained to me that I didn't want to take what was offered. This is just time-wasting.
Martin Spellman, Harrow

Our youngest son now aged 21 has been working in Peterborough for an agency full time for over a year but has never been offered a permanent job. He takes any job that is offered. He even took his fork lift truck licence off his own back financed by himself. He has 5 GCSE at grade a-c is well spoken and presentable young man with his own transport. He has never claimed any form of unemployemnt in his life. Employers use temporary labour providers to try people out. They seem to turn jobs on and off as the needs arise. It makes the young people very insecure and very suspicious of all employers and makes the youth very disillusioned. We are getting back to the "them and us" situation of employers and unions of the 70s and before. We need proper apprenticships and training schemes partly aided by government money. If we don't give these young people hope of a bright future in the workplace then we are all in trouble.
Rosemary Zirker, Sdmouth Devon

The Panorama program was good but, did what every program on the same subject has done, failed to tell the whole truth, the real reasons why so many young men and women are on the dole. I am an employer and the sad truth is a large number of young people are lazy, bad mannered and thick! plus with all the new employment rules, its a mine field taking on staff today, if they get pregnant, the employer pays, if they get sick, the employer pays, if they do something very stupid and hurt themselves, the employer pays, it seems as though the government will go out of their way, to add to an employers bills, yet what will they do about the millions of lazy spongers on the dole, make the tax payer pay more, its amazing, but we seem to have done away with that old fashioned idea of a person is responsable for themselves, no matter what the situation, someone else is to blame, and someone else is there to pick up the tab, and look where that has got us today. Well done the left!
Andrew Davidson, Cardiff

The programme was called "Real Apprentices" but the reality is that none of the four were offered any real training opportunities. The manufacturing companies employed two of the young men through agencies and effectively treated them as bodies that can be hired and fired at will - a great start to their career!
Kevin Herbert, Greater Manchester

I watched your programme with interest as i work with NEET young people. I see too many that say they want any job but do not attend appointments, refuse to work for the minimum wage or refuse to work before 9am. They refuse training that would give them work experience, help with English and maths, CVs and interview skills and yet they are still able to claim Job Seekers Allowance. Many also make themselves intentionally homeless, so they can get a flat from the council, have the rent paid and claim job seekers allowance. Many have parents that also play the system. The system is NOT working. Where is the incentive to work, ir we pay them for doing nothing? To make matters worse, we also 'massage' the figures as the government set us a target to meet, so the figures do not show the real NEET total. Things drastically need to change as the working population cannot carry a society that refuses to work.
Karen, Worcestershire, England