The new Bearing the Brunt report by The Australia Institute, commissioned by Youth Action found that Young people make up 14% of the workforce but 39% of job losses during the pandemic lockdowns. Western Sydney and regional NSW being the hardest hit areas in NSW. Young people deserve a fair chance to access stable jobs.

Access the Report

Download the NSW Report – Bearing the Brunt.

Download the Federal Report – Youth Unemployment and the Pandemic.

Download the Employment Consultations with Young People Report.

Visit The Australia Institute report webpages for the Youth Unemployment and the Pandemic, and Bearing the Brunt.

Get Involved

Join in to collectively raise awareness about the report findings and recommendations. Below are ways you can support us.

1. Include the following in your next email newsletter

Youth Action and The Australia Institute have launched new a report on youth employment, ‘Bearing the Brunt’. One of the major findings is that young people have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, making up 14% of the workforce but 39% of the job losses during the lockdowns. Click here to access the report and help raise awareness.

2. Like and share our social posts

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youthactionnsw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/youthactionnsw

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/youth-action-nsw

3. Post on your social media

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Choose a post below or write your own:

• Young people consistently bear the brunt of economic downturns. While the unemployment rate is low, youth unemployment remains double that of the rest of the population. Young people deserve a fair chance to access stable jobs. More bit.ly/youthjobs2022 #NoMoreBearingTheBrunt
• Young people make up 14% of the workforce but 39% of job losses during the pandemic lockdowns. Western Sydney and regional NSW being the hardest hit areas in NSW. Young people deserve a fair chance to access stable jobs. More at bit.ly/youthjobs2022 #NoMoreBearingTheBrunt
• Over half of all young people employed are in casual or gig jobs and have no access to leave and entitlements. This is less than 1 in 5 for the rest of the population. Young people deserve a fair chance to access stable jobs. More at bit.ly/youthjobs2022 #NoMoreBearingTheBrunt

Background

Young people, Youth Action Member organisations, and the Youth Sector have been clear about the importance of youth employment. This was a consistent theme throughout the ongoing consultations we held with young people before and during the pandemic.

In a unique partnership between Youth Action, The Australia Institute, and most importantly, young people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences from across NSW, a report focused on youth employment, ‘Bearing the Brunt’ has been produced. The report combines qualitative research with the voices of young people across NSW, whose lived experience is at the heart of the report.

We heard from hundreds of young people across several consultations with young people, including young people from regional areas, First Nations, LGBTIQA+, with disability, from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including migrants and refugees, and those doing-it-tough.

Amongst many things, the report found that young people have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, making up 14% of the workforce but 39% of the job losses during lockdowns. Young workers are highly represented in casual work and the hardest hit industries like retail and hospitality of which the COVID-19 restrictions disproportionately impacted.

To ensure the report’s recommendations reflect the Youth Sector’s solutions, we held a roundtable with a cross-section of representatives from Government and Non-Government Organisations and young people for feedback on the recommendations.

This report is the first step of a long process of further and ongoing collaboration towards better outcomes for young people, and we look forward to continuing to work together to that end.

Media

For media enquiries please contact Kate on 0407 594 916, or kate@youthaction.org.au.