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Canberra Today 25°/29° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Youth unemployment at ‘crisis point’

THE level of youth unemployment in Canberra has reached crisis point, according to a national welfare organisation. jobs

The Brotherhood of St Laurence has analysed the latest Bureau of Statistics showing youth unemployment figures and the historic trend data.

The analysis found young people aged between 16 and 24 comprise about 40 per cent of all unemployed Canberra residents, and that youth unemployment rate has risen to 11.3 per cent, from 6.5 per cent in 2008.

Spokesman Tony Nicholson says youth unemployment in the capital has almost doubled within the last five years.

“It’s a disaster for our young people who want to work but are getting locked out of the workforce and locked into welfare dependency because they have no choice,” he says.

“And it’s a disaster for the national economy and for taxpayers who will end up paying the bill. It’s time to invest now in our young people so they can contribute to society. Young people tell us all the time that they want to work.”

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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