BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 25th September
IELTS WRITING TASK 2
Young people are often the first to suffer when job opportunities are scarce. In which ways does age affect employment opportunities? How might employers deal with the issue fairly? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
SAMPLE ANSWER
We are currently living in an era when job opportunities are limited and there is a high level of competition for any vacancies that become available. As a result, employers can demand more in the way of skills and experience from applicants, which can lead to young people being turned down in favour of people with more experience.
There is certainly evidence in my own country to support this situation. When employment statistics are published, youth unemployment is always a particular concern, with numbers remaining stubbornly high. In addition, young people who are fortunate enough to find work are often in short-term jobs that offer little in the way of career progression.
This situation is aggravated by the fact that older people who have been made redundant or who have only semi-retired are also actively seeking employment. Indeed, several major businesses, particularly those in the service sector, are keen to employ more mature people since they feel the older generation have better customer service skills as well as years of experience behind them.
Clearly, it is necessary that society should provide work for all who need it and it would be wrong to discriminate against someone on the basis of their age. However, I do feel that younger people need to be given the opportunity to develop the skills and experience they need to get them started in the field of work. For this reason, I believe companies should be encouraged not only to employ younger people but also to provide appropriate training and career progression so that youngsters do not find themselves trapped in dead-end jobs.
IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2