Youth Employment Stategy (YES) - 2010

Youth Prevention Strategy: Preventing a Lost Generation

Youth unemployment is rising. As Australia experiences the early signs of economic recovery, youth unemployment (15‐19 year olds) stands at 16.0 percent (ABS Labour Force Survey January 2010). This is nearly three times higher than the unemployment rate across the whole of the population.

The youth participation rate has also declined consistently over the past two years – 60 percent in January 2008 to a current rate of 56.6 percent. Some communities are particularly impacted by youth unemployment with areas such as the outer eastern parts of Melbourne, the western suburbs of Adelaide and the Central Coast of NSW having teenage unemployment rates of well over 30%.