Youth unemployment: aggregate incidence and consequences for individuals

Abstract

This paper analyses the incidence and impact of unemployment among young Australians. It is argued that the scale and seriousness of the current youth problem are often overstated. There is no evidence that the aggregate unemployment experience of young Australians has changed over the last two decades. The groups of young people most at risk of unemployment are identified. While the overall scale of the problem is not worsening, some of the young unemployed face adverse future labour market outcomes. It is argued that while there is a role for specific policies targeted on young people, these need to be accompanied by policies that involve managing aggregate demand.