Over a third of young Australians are out of work, in what has been described as the “worst jobs market” for young people in 40 years.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that 37.8% of Australians aged between 18 and 24 are currently unemployed with zero hours of work – the worst youth unemployment rate since the ABS began tracking the data in 1978.

In total, over 750,000 Australians are out of work across the country.

Australian Unions’ president Michele O’Neill has called for “leadership and a plan for job creation” in the midst of this jobs crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[We can’t afford] a tired rerun of blaming unemployed young people for the fact that they can’t find a job”, O’Neill said.

“Young people are facing conditions that we haven’t seen since the 70s. They need support from the Government to ensure that they come out of this pandemic with a job”.

In the context of this unemployment crisis, Australian Unions are calling for an extension of the JobKeeper scheme past September, as well as an end to the “blame-game” occurring as to the high unemployment rates. 

If you agree that young people deserve a better deal though COVID-19, make sure you join your union today.