2. Youth Unemployment

Youth unemployment remains unacceptably high. Perhaps of most concern is the dimension of the problem in particular regions, resulting in greatly reduced employment opportunities in some parts of Australia. The challenge for everyone in the community is to provide employment for these young people.

One recent study has stated that 7% of the labour market is made up of part-time workers who want to work more hours (‘Work Time Life’ Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training, November,1998). And, as a second report pointed out, the official figures do not tell the full story:

“The dimensions of the social divisions now facing us are now no longer adequately expressed by the raw level of teenage unemployment. For every teenager who is looking for work, at least one more can be found who is not counted in the official statistics on unemployment, but who is not involved in full-time work or full-time study.” (Why Australia Needs a National Youth Commitment, Dusseldorp Skills Forum, October 1999)

On a regional level, teenage full time unemployment in the 12 months to August 1999 was running at 30.3% in inner Sydney, 35.9% in Richmond-Tweed & Mid North Coast of NSW, 28.5% in outer western Melbourne, 33.3% on the Mornington Peninsula, 41.3% in Northern Adelaide and 34.7% in Greater Hobart. If you are a teenager who is lucky enough to live in the St George/Sutherland area of Sydney you face just a 4.4% of being unemployed.

Table 1: PC Ausstats – Labour Force – Table 9I, August 1999
Unemployed 15/19 year olds — Total	125,400
Unemployed 15/19 year olds — at school	50,400
Unemployed 15/19 year olds — in tertiary education	19,800
Unemployed 15/19 year olds — not at school or in tertiary education	55,300

As a community we should not accept the fact that more than one in five young Australians who want to work can not find a job. Governments, employers and unions all have a role to play. All community stakeholders should work together to help create employment opportunities that lead to secure, stimulating, well paid jobs.

The construction industry is an important source of employment for young Australians. In August 1999, total employment in the construction industry stood at 675,500 (Ausstats). It has been estimated that 38,500 people aged under 21 were employed in the construction industry in May 1996. Of this number 18,018 were apprentices, 17,748 un-apprenticed youths who were being paid adult wages and 2,772 were being paid junior wages. (Junior Rates Inquiry, Australian Industrial Relations Ccmmission, June 1999, p186) It is presumed that the presence of junior rates is largely limited to shop assistant classifications. The Junior Rates Inquiry stated that:

“It appears that little use is made of the junior rate classifications for actual building and construction work.”

Figures supplied to the Junior Rates Inquiry show that in May 1998 the construction industry provided 13.8% of all full-time employment for teenagers (Junior Rates Inquiry, Print R5300, Australian Industrial Relations Commission, p148).

These figures show that one argument put forward by the current Federal Government on the need for junior rates to encourage employment has no validity in the construction industry. (The Government argues junior rates are required to prevent young people being disadvantaged in the labour market. Peter Reith, ‘Protecting job opportunities for young people.’ Ministerial Discussion Paper, June 1998)

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United we bargain - Divided we beg.
	Contact the National Office, Construction Division at: Level 12, 276 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Ph: 02 8524 5800 Fax: 02 8524 5801 Email: queries@fed.cfmeu.asn.au Postal address: PO Box Q235, Queen Victoria Building Post Office, Sydney NSW 1230.