[Padwan]

Lucy, you worry too much.

As someone more or less in your sons position (22 years old, graduated a year ago), I can just imagine how embarrassed you son must be feeling right now that his mum is worrying about him publicly!!

Its all going to be alright. There's a recession, there's less construction work...but can't it only get better?

I graduated and thought I would never get a job because a degree in Classics=Guaranteed Unemployment. All the applications I sent out were rejected. I reevaluated what it was I actually wanted (please, please don't push your son into doing something just so you can say he is ''employed", he may regret it for life). I began teaching English, really enjoyed it, and 10 months later found my "real" job.

Your son can do what virtually all my "unemployed" friends are doing which is:

Go work in a pub (people never stop drinking no matter how bad it gets), send out targeted, personalised applications to employers, and wait for success, because one day it will come. Just be patient.

Patrick