NOT FULLY ENGAGED IN EDUCATION AND/OR EMPLOYMENT


KEY SERIES

NOT FULLY ENGAGED IN EDUCATION AND/ OR EMPLOYMENT(a), 15-19 years
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Males	12.9	11.9	12.3	13.2	11.8	11.7	12.2	10.7	14.1	15.3
Females	13.8	14.1	14.1	15.1	16.1	14.7	13.4	14.3	17.0	14.3
(a) Males and females not fully engaged in education and/or employment as a proportion of persons aged 15-19 years for each sex. Source: ABS Education and Work, Australia, 2010 (cat. no. 6227.0).

RELATED SERIES

NOT FULLY ENGAGED IN EDUCATION AND/ OR EMPLOYMENT(a), 20-24 years
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Males	18.7	18.3	18.7	17.7	16.9	16.9	14.2	14.8	20.2	18.1
Females	28.6	27.5	27.5	27.4	26.2	25.4	25.9	24.4	24.3	25.8
(a) Males and females not fully engaged in education and/or employment as a proportion of persons aged 20-24 years for each sex. Source: ABS Education and Work, Australia, 2010 (cat. no. 6227.0).

COMMENTARY




In 2010, the majority of males and females aged 15-19 years were fully engaged in education and/ or employment, but a small proportion of males (15%) and females (14%) were not engaged. The proportions of males and females not fully engaged in education and/or employment were higher for the 20-24 year age group than for the 15-19 year age group, with a higher proportion of females (26%) in this age group not being fully engaged in education and/or employment than of males (18%).

Levels of participation in education and the labour market are frequently used indicators of the wellbeing of young people. Research suggests that young people who are not fully engaged in education or employment (or a combination of both) are at greater risk of unemployment, cycles of low pay, and employment insecurity in the longer term. Participation in education and training, and engaging in employment, are considered important aspects of developing individual capability and building a socially inclusive society. (Endnote 1)

Over the last decade, the proportion of 15-19 year old males not fully engaged in education and/or employment has increased from 13% in 2001 to 15% in 2010, while the proportion of females not fully engaged was 14% in both 2001 and 2010. However, for both males and females the proportion of 15-19 year olds who were not fully engaged jumped in the May 2009 survey, reflecting the labour market circumstances at that time.

It is not surprising that the proportions of males and females not fully engaged in education and/or employment were lower in the 15-19 year age group than in the 20-24 year age group as the majority of those aged 15-19 years were still attending school.



Of those not fully engaged in education and/or employment in the 20-24 year age group, a higher proportion of females (11%) were working part-time compared to 8% of males. The proportion of females who were neither employed nor studying was also higher for females (14%) than males (10%). Males who were not fully engaged and aged 20-24 years were more likely to be unemployed (6% compared to 4% of females), while females were more likely to be not in the labour force (11% compared to 4% of males). Differences in the type of non-full engagement between males and females at this age are, in large part, a reflection of the greater likelihood of females being a carer of young children. Mothers represented a higher proportion of the not fully engaged females in this age group compared to fathers. (Endnote 1)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians aged 15-19 years were more likely than non-Indigenous young people to not be fully engaged in education and/or employment. In 2008, about one-third of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females aged 15-19 years were not fully engaged. The proportions of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females aged 15-19 years who were not fully engaged declined from 39% of males and 47% of females in 2002 to 31% of males and 35% of females in 2008.

Compared to 15-19 year olds, there were higher proportions of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females in the 20-24 year age group who were not fully engaged. In 2008, over half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 20-24 years were not fully engaged. A higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females (73%) were not engaged compared to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males (53%).




ENDNOTES

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, March 2010, Australian Social Trends, Mar 2010, (cat. no. 4102.0) <www.abs.gov.au>.

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