At root, there are essentially only three reasons for unemployment. First, and most important, is a lack of jobs. This isn't something that's going to change any time soon. Second is a lack of the requisite skills. In the past, there used to be a safety net of relatively well-paid employment to catch the always-significant numbers who come out of education ill prepared for work. Thanks to technology and globalisation, this has gone. Only the skilled and the trained will now progress. And finally, there's lack of incentive. Welfare reform will help, but again it'll take time, and it won't have much traction unless there are jobs to be had.