Many Australians made jobless at the start of pandemic were under 25

These figures were from a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) which showed that, compared to older age groups, young Australians experienced higher rates of job loss, psychological distress and educational disruption during the pandemic. 

The report showed that the severe psychological distress among young people aged 18-24 rose from 14% in February 2017 to 22% in April 2020.  

The proportion of young people aged 15-24 not in education, employment or training increased from 8.7% in May 2019 to 12% in May 2020 after the implementation of pandemic restrictions. The proportion has since fallen to 11% in February 2021 – a similar rate to February 2020 before the pandemic. 

AIHW spokesperson Sally Mills said, “Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical period in a person’s life. Young people often experience rapid physical, social and emotional changes in a time where they are transitioning from dependence to independence. 

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“This is a time when young people are finishing school, pursuing further training and education, entering the workforce, moving out of the family home, and forming relationships.” 

The new report is AIHW’s first comprehensive one on young people since 2015, according to Phys.org.