Claer Barrett

speaker

97 appearances 1 recordings 1 series first heard Jul 2026 last heard 24 Jul

Claer Barrett’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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recordings per month · last 12 months

Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 1 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 1.

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Taking Stock · Gen X working blues, Prediction Markets and Burnham's economic headaches · 24 Jul 2026 podcast

Many people actually like it because they've got more autonomy over when they can work, particularly if they're somebody with caring responsibilities, which is another massive problem for people who are in their 50s and 60s.

It's not just grandchildren or children anymore, of course.

It's like looking after our parents, you know, who increasingly need our help more.

You know, we're called the sandwich generation because we're the squeezed filling generation.

But of course, it's quite a precarious position to be in if you are somebody who is freelancing or who has their own company and has to hustle for business.

You know, you don't just get people phoning you up saying, oh, can you come and do some work for me?

You've really got to, you know, go out there and work.

persuade people to take you on, to market your skills and services, to have a website, a social media presence.

So lots of skills that people are having to acquire to stay in the game.

So it's not an easy answer, becoming self-employed.

But nevertheless, I feel for the kinds of people who were mentioned in that article and also who've responded to it, who've said that they've been doing hundreds and

And that the industries that they have been in now that they're in their 50s, you know, employers are no longer interested in inviting them in for an interview.

It's one of the things that people are saying, right, well, I've got to do something.

So that's what I'll do.

I can honestly say, hand on heart, I've had more responses to this piece and the social media posts that I did about it on Instagram and LinkedIn than anything else I think I've ever written in the FT.

It really has struck a chord with people who just don't feel recognised.

There's an awful lot of media attention being paid to the million neats, young people who are not in employment, education or training groups.

between the ages of 16 and 24.

And that is indeed, you know, a tragedy, a terrible problem.

You know, they can't get their careers started, but there's less attention being paid to the people who are at the other end of the age spectrum who want to work, have tons of talent, loads of experience and are deeply employable.

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