‘Flat-Pack Generation’ creates domestic skills shortage
Young people struggle to carry out most basic household tasks
Basic household skills are dying out, with the nation’s young people unable to carry out simple tasks like wiring a plug or sewing a hem.
New research from Direct Line Home Response 24 reveals that almost half of people under 30 (49 per cent) would struggle to wallpaper a room, one in four (27 per cent) to sew a hem and 26 per cent to wire a plug – compared to only 26 per cent, 14 per cent and six per cent of people aged 50 or over.
Similarly, while nearly half of under 30s (44 per cent) do not know how to bleed a radiator and a third (35 per cent) lack the expertise to unblock a drain, only 10 per cent and 27 per cent of their parents’ generation respectively, have such difficulties.
Consequently, a fifth of young people admit they have panicked when confronted by a household emergency that they didn’t have the expertise to resolve. This inability to ‘do it themselves’ leaves almost one in 10 (nine per cent) feeling inadequate.
The country’s domestic skills shortage also comes at a high financial cost. The younger generation shell out an average £1,741 per year on hiring tradesmen to carry out basic household tasks with the over 50s spending an average £331 over the 12-month period.
Many of the ‘Flat-pack Generation’ – young people who can assemble a flat pack wardrobe but not sew a hem – blame mum and dad for their failings. Almost one in five under 30s (18 per cent) said their parents didn’t teach them basic household skills, while 10 per cent say they are simply too busy to worry about such tasks.
The under 30s also admit they resent spending their spare time carrying out domestic chores (19 per cent), with only 16 per cent allocating five or more hours a week to them, compared to 27 per cent of over 50s. Time isn’t the only issue for everyone though – 17 per cent said they prefer to leave things to the experts.
Carmel McCarthy, Direct Line Home Response 24 spokesperson, comments:
“ It’s surprising to see how many skills that were commonplace a generation ago such as wallpapering, needlework and household maintenance appear to have fallen out of favour.
“Calling in tradespeople for basic domestic repairs can be expensive but attempting to deal with things yourself without the right skills can be dangerous, and botched repairs can often make things worse.”
For those under 30s not hiring in the experts, it’s mum and dad who are coming to the rescue. In the last five years alone, 20 per cent have asked their parents to help with painting and decorating, 16 per cent with putting up shelves, 13 per cent with sewing a hem and 12 per cent bleeding a radiator.
But while the under 30s appear to lack many practical skills, they do have some advantages over their older counterparts: 16 per cent of the over 50s admit to struggling to assemble flat pack furniture and nearly one in five (18 per cent) cannot set their VCR or Sky Plus – compared to seven per cent and four per cent of under 30s.
-ends-
Carmel McCarthy/ Direct Line Press Office
Tel: 0208 256 2178 carmel.mccarthy@directline.com
Notes to editors:
Research was carried out online between 24th-27th March 2006 by YouGov who interviewed a sample of 2294 18+ adults in Great Britain. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population from the 2001 Census. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.
|
