SPECIAL REPORT DAY 5: Is austerity working for the next generation

The Government’s call for young people to further upskill to make themselves more attractive to the jobs market is a tough proposition, writes Stephen Rogers

WHEN RTÉ’s Reeling in the Years features the years between 2009 and 2013, the iconic images of austerity will likely include montages of the masses of tear-stained faces of parents seeing young adults off at the departure gates of the country’s airports.

Of those watching the programme in years to come, some will say “that’s blowing it out of proportion, it wasn’t that bad” — but they will likely be the lucky ones left behind here who managed to find work.