Early School Leavers Face Higher Unemployment Rates, Study Reveals

Strategic Insights -

Young people who leave school early are four times as likely to be unemployed than those who complete year 12, according to a study released by the Australian government. The study found that early school leavers suffer long-term unemployment and are less likely to find or keep a job. Disabled people had a higher unemployment rate than non-disabled people, and those who left school early were more likely to come from a poorer background. The government hopes to increase the percentage of 19-year-olds who complete year 12 and/or post-school training to 95% by 2001.

Key Takeaways:

  • Young people who leave school early are four times as likely to be unemployed than those who complete year 12.
  • Early school leavers suffer long-term unemployment and are less likely to find or keep a job.
  • Disabled people had a higher unemployment rate than non-disabled people.
  • Those who left school early were more likely to come from a poorer background.
  • The government hopes to increase the percentage of 19-year-olds who complete year 12 and/or post-school training to 95% by 2001.
  • Of the 3255 young people surveyed, almost 23% had left school early and not gone on to tertiary training.
  • Early school leavers were less likely to keep a job for a whole year.
  • There was a "better-than-even chance" that early school leavers who were unemployed at the start of the year would be unemployed again at the end of the year.
  • Those who got a job through the year would find it harder to keep.

Statistics:

  • 23% of young people surveyed had left school early and not gone on to tertiary training.
  • 95% of 19-year-olds are expected to complete year 12 and/or post-school training by 2001.
  • Four times as many early school leavers were unemployed than those who completed year 12.
  • 3242 young people (99.7%) had a post-secondary qualification.
  • 13 young people (0.4%) had a disability and left school early.
  • 455 young people (14.0%) left school early and had a disability.
  • 35 young people (1.1%) came from a poorer background and left school early.

Sources:

  • The Australian Youth Survey released yesterday
  • Department of Employment, Education and Training
  • Australian Government study
  • Survey of young people who turned 19 between 1989 and 1991
  • Federal Minister for Schools, Mr. Free
  • The first Australian Youth Profile survey
  • Second Australian Youth Survey