Young and unemployed

In a special feature World Update reports from the campus of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

It's one of the most international schools in the world and a good location to discuss an issue that is on the minds of many young people these days.

An issue with many labels: the recession generation, the quarter life crisis or very simply young and unemployed.

One of the major knock-ons from this global recession is that young people around the world -- even well educated young people in developed countries -- are finding it very difficult to find work.

Pablo Gonzalez is 26-years-old, Mexican and unemployed. He has been looking for work in London for 4 months.

First though, Dan Damon speaks to Antony So, 23-years-old with dual British-Swiss nationality.

In the UK, one of the priorities for policy makers is the rising unemployment.

One in five under-25s are out of work and youth unemployment could rise much higher unless the government takes radical steps to help school leavers and graduates.

That's the view of former Bank of England labour market expert Professor David Blanchflower.

It's tough out there for graduates. But it's equally difficult for students who had expected to be working to pay for their studies.

Every year thousands of Bangladeshi students come to London on student visas.

The visas allow them to work to support themselves through school. But, as Dan Damon found out, students have been experiencing the cold reality of the London job-market.

First broadcast 5 November 2009