1. Monash University – ACER CENTRE FOR THE ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING Jobs: How young people are faring Mike Long CEET 9th Annual National Conference Australian education and training: responding to economic trends and social needs Friday 28 October 2005 Ascot House 50 Fenton St Ascot Vale, Melbourne

2. How young people are faring  An update on the learning and work situation of young Australians. ▫ Transition from school.  Now an annual report -- first published in 1999.  Published by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum. ▫ Established 1988 by Lend Lease shareholders. ▫ Independent funding & governance. ▫ Youth, skills, participation, citizenship. ▫ Advocacy, research, program support.  The 2005 (7 th ed) due out in early 2005.

3. How young people are faring, 2005  The report has three key indicators: 1)The proportion of young people not in full-time education and not in full-time employment. 2)The ratio of the unemployment rate among 15 to 24 year olds to the rate among 25 to 54 year olds. 3) The proportion of the population aged 20 to 24 years who have completed Year 12 or a post-secondary qualification.  Plus sections on educational participation & labour force participation.  Focus on the labour force participation of young people not in full-time study.

4. Importance of the transition  For the individual (now & in the future)  For the family (now & in the future)  For society (now and in the future)  For the economy ▫ An investment that will produce good returns. ▫ Dealing with skills shortages. ▫ An offset to the ageing of the workforce. ▫ Important for international competitiveness

5. Policy development Reviews: Vic, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, Commonwealth School leaving age: Qld, WA, Tas, SA, Vic Certificate reviews: NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACE Learning alternatives: Vic, Qld, Tas, NSW, POEMs Community partnerships: Vic, Qld, SA, Tas, LCPs Customised support: Vic, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, JPP/YPP Tracking: Vic, Qld, SA, Tas, ANICA Labour markets: Qld.

6. Young people in May 2005 A snapshot % Full-time work Part- time work Seeking work Not in the labour force Total In full-time education 0.627.25.035.868.7 Not in full-time ed’n 16.47.23.83.931.3  208,400 (14.9%) of 15 to 19 year-olds not in full-time education or full-time work ABS, Labour force Australia.

7. Young people not in full-time education or work, May 2004 15-19 year-olds not at school by highest year of schooling completed ABS, Education and work Year 1220% Year 1140% Year 1039% Year 959% Year 874%

8. Young people not in full-time education or work, 1986-2005 ABS, Labour force Australia.

9. Labour force activities of young people not in full-time education or work, 1986-2005 ABS, Labour force Australia.

10. Growth in full-time jobs: 15-19, 20-24 and 25-64 year-olds ABS, Labour force Australia.

11. Part-time employment of young people: Hours of work & preference for more hours, 15-19 year-olds, August 2004 Studying full- time Not studying full-time Total 15 to 19 year-olds Actual hours worked %% 1-15 hours75.029.765.5 16-24 hours15.333.519.2 25-34 hours3.134.09.6 Other6.62.75.8 Total100.0 Prefer more hours % 22.959.530.5

12. Unemployment & NILFers Unemployment: In May 2005 53,700 young Australians were not in full-time education and were looking for work—3.8% of all 15-19 year- olds. Of these, 92.1% wanted full-time work Not in the labour force: In May 2005, 54,500 teenagers were not in full-time education and not in the labour force—3.9% of the all 15-19 year- olds. In 2004, 49% of 15-19 year-olds who were not studying full-time were marginally attached to the labour force.

13. Key issues  Lack of integration in approaches between levels of government.  Lack of consensus on goals & targets.  Overlap, gaps, waste, confusion.  Piecemeal approach to customised support & tracking.  Relative lack of focus on labour market issues.  Policy focus needed for young adults.  Lack of strong legislative foundations.  Impact of reforms yet to be reflected in data.  Modest funding but very high expectations.  Need for more cohesive policy & delivery framework.

14. The way forward  National goal to boost educational attainment & achieve best transitions in the OECD  Agreements between States and Commonwealth  Legislative guarantee to access & have the support necessary to complete Year 12 or equivalent  Learning choices in senior & intermediate years  VET in schools & literacy & numeracy  Intensive personal support for all early leavers  Integrated ‘second chances’ for early leavers  Learning from local & international best practice

15. The commitment We aim at nothing less than assisting all young Australians from age 13 to 19 to make a successful transition from school to an enduring career. Prime Minister John Howard in launching the Coalition’s 2004 election campaign, Brisbane, 26 September

16. Thank you  More information at www.dsf.org.au ▫ Local Investment, National Returns ▫ Economic Benefit of Increased Participation in Education & Training ▫ Setting the Pace ▫ ABS & CEDA reports ▫ Reviewing the Reviews ▫ Hitting the Wall ▫ How Young People are Faring 2005 (very soon)  Even more information at: www.education.monash.edu.au/centres/ceet