Young People at Work

Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 921507 11 3
Year 2009

Price: $20.95

  

Young People at Work
Volume 301, Issues in Society

In a time of global economic recession, the prospect of gainful employment is an major focus in the minds of many young Australians who are undergoing the transition from study to work. This book is a practical guide aimed at school leavers about to enter into the workforce. Featured topics include: advice on choosing a career; educational attainment and employment statistics; vocational education and training outcomes; applying for a job – identifying your relevant skills, writing effective resumes, and performing well in job interviews; the rights of young people once they have found work – understanding workplace agreements, part-time and casual work entitlements, youth wages, the employment rights of children (while still at school); safety at work; and resigning from a job.

Chapter 1: Career Choices – from Study to Work
Leaving school, Career options for school students and leavers, Getting started,
Education and work, Australian vocational education and training statistics, One in five young Australians are not engaged in either full-time earning or learning, How young people are faring, VET pathways taken by school leavers, Getting career advice, At school – where do I start?, Choose a direction.

Chapter 2: Applying for a Job
Practical advice for job hunters, What do I need to start work?, Young job seekers – employability skills, How to write a job application, Get that job – applying for jobs, How to succeed at job interviews.

Chapter 3  Your Rights at Work
Combining work and study, Starting a new job, Types of employment, Part-time and casual work, Workplace rights and rules for young workers, Youth wages: wage by age, Child employment, Working 5-9! Work and people under 15, Safety at work, Why are young workers at higher risk of being injured?, Dealing with a difficult boss, So you want to quit your job, Unemployment.

Glossary; Fast Facts; Web Links; Index



fast facts
FAST FACTS from this volume
  • The proportion of people with a non-school qualification increased from 42% in May 1998 to 54% in May 2008. In particular, the proportion of people with a Bachelor Degree or above increased from 14% in May 1998 to 22% in May 2008. The proportion of people whose highest non-school qualification was an Advanced Diploma or below increased from 28% in 1998 to 31% in 2008.
  • Among the 7.5 million people with a non-school qualification, the most commonly reported fields of education for the highest non-school qualification were Management and commerce (23%) and Engineering and related technologies (18%).
  • Of people with a non-school qualification, 83% were employed, compared to 65% without a non-school qualification. 77% of employed people with a non-school qualification were employed full-time, compared to 64% of employed people without a non-school qualification.
  • Almost one-third (31%) of people aged 15-64 years reported their level of highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below and 20% reported Year 12. Additionally, more than one in five (22%) had a highest level of attainment of Bachelor Degree or above and 16% had a Certificate III or IV.
  • In May 2008, there were 188,700 people aged 15-64 years who were employed as apprentices and part of the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme. Of these, 88% were males and 50% were aged 15-19 years. The most commonly reported industry of apprenticeships was Construction (40%).
  • Seven in ten 15 to 19 year-olds are engaged in full-time education, and a further 17% are working full-time.
  • 13% of teenagers are not engaged in full-time work or full-time education.
  • Three-quarters of school leavers are engaged in full-time work or full-time education in the year after leaving school.
  • Marginal attachment to the labour force (unemployment, part-time work and not being in the labour force) is more common among females and school leavers in low SES areas.
  • Between 1998 and 2006 the proportion of young people aged 15-19 years studying full time and working part-time increased from 24% to 27%, and the proportion of 15-19 year olds who were studying full-time only decreased from 44% to 41%.
  • Young people who are not in full-time work, full-time study or combined part-time work and part-time study are considered to be at risk of personal and social stresses and may have poorer long-term labour market outcomes than other young people.
  • In 2006, 85% of young people aged 15-19 years and 76% of young people aged 20-24 years were participating full-time in education and/or work.
  • Over two-thirds (69%) of 15-19 year olds were in full-time education in 2006, including 28% who combined full-time education with full- or part-time work. Among this age group the combination of part-time work with part-time study was relatively uncommon, suggesting that either work or study takes precedence. These patterns change considerably as young people leave school and move into their twenties.
  • Among 20-24 year olds, full-time employment becomes the dominant category, with over half (53%) in full-time employment, including 10% who combined full-time employment with full- or part-time study. A considerable proportion of 20-24 year olds were also engaged in full-time education (24%) in 2006.
  • Between July 1987 and July 2007, the unemployment rate decreased from 18.0% to 11.4% for young people aged 15-19 years and from 10.6% to 5.8% for 20-24 year olds. Reflecting this favourable labour market the proportion of young people looking for work has fallen since 2002, particularly those looking for full-time work.
  • Despite the large declines, unemployment rates for young people have remained consistently higher than the national rate, which was 3.9% for persons aged 15 years or over in July 2007. The unemployment rates for young people aged 15-19 years and 20-24 years were 2.9 times and 1.5 times the national rate respectively.
  • In July 2007, 22% of the unemployed population were aged 15-19 years and a further 16% were aged 20-24 years. Many unemployed young people, however, are engaged in either full- or part-time study – 53% of unemployed 15-19 year olds and 26% of unemployed 20-24 year olds were attending full-time education in July 2007.
  • Between 1987 and 2007, the proportion of young people in part-time employment has increased from 17% to 33% for 15-19 year olds and from 9% to 22% for 20-24 year olds. Coinciding with this increase, there have been large declines in the proportion of 15-19 year olds in full-time employment (from 32% in 1987 to 18% in 2007) and a similar but smaller decline for 20-24 year olds (66% to 54%). Despite these substantial changes, the proportion of young people not in the labour force has remained much the same – 40% and 42% for 15-19 year olds and 16% and 19% for 20-24 year olds in 1987 and 2007, respectively.
  • The increase in part-time work among young people reflects, in part, an increase in participation in education and a deferral of entry into the full-time, long-term labour market. However, it may also be a reflection of the availability of full-time work for young people. An estimated 23% of young people not in full-time education in 2002, were working part-time only because they could not find full-time work.
  • In September 2006, there were 174,000 young people aged 15-24 years who worked part-time but would prefer more hours. The underemployment rate for young people was higher than the rate for any other age group – 10.9% and 7.8% for 15-19 and 20-24 year olds respectively, compared with the national rate of 5.0%.
  • In June 2006 there were 175,100 children aged 5 to 14 years who worked at some time during the previous 12 months, for example by delivering leaflets for an employer, or cleaning or gardening for non-household members for payment. This comprised 7% of all children in this age group – 2% of children aged 5-9 years, and 11% of children aged 10-14 years.
  • Of those children who worked, 33% worked in a family business or farm, 54% for an employer, and 16% for themselves. Most children usually worked 5 hours or less per week – this was the case for 59% of children who worked during the school holidays and 75% of children who worked during school terms. Children aged 10-14 years were more likely than 5-9 year olds to work 10 hours or more per week (26% compared with 13% during school holidays, and 11% compared with 6% during school term).