Michelle Grattan writes in The Conversation (27.3.17) that, according to a new Brotherhood of St Laurence report, almost one in five young people have fewer hours of work than they want, with underemployment in the youth labour force at its highest level in 40 years.
‘Underemployment among young people is now at its highest in the 40 years since it has been officially counted, according to a report from the Brotherhood of St Laurence released on Monday.
‘In February underemployment was 18% of the youth labour force, affecting even more young people than unemployment, which was 13.5%.
‘In total, some 659,000 young people were unemployed or underemployed – defined as having some work but wanting more hours. There were 282,000 young people unemployed and 377,000 underemployed.
‘… The report says young people are much more likely to be in casual and part-time work than at the turn of the century, and in the past 15 years the average gap between the working hours of underemployed young people and their desired hours has widened.’
- Youth underemployment at four-decade peak: Brotherhood report »
- 650,000 young Australians out of work or not getting enough hours: new report »
- Underemployment of young people is the highest it has been in 40 years »
- The costs of a casual job are now outweighing any pay benefits »
- Why is unemployment still so high? »
- Unemployed, underemployed or underpaid: The reality for young workers »
- Part-time purgatory: young and underemployed in Australia »
- More jobs for Australian teenagers is good news for them but not for recovery »