Youth Unemployment Rise worries Students
nzusa-new-zealand-union-of-students-associations
Wed Nov 04 2015 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Youth Unemployment Rise worries Students
Wednesday, 4 November 2015, 5:34 pm
Press Release: NZUSA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Youth Unemployment Rise worries Students
04 November 2015
Media Release: New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations
Student leaders are reporting increasing concern amongst students of their graduate prospects as the unemployment rate rises to 6% and youth unemployment increases 1.7% to 15.33%.
National student president Rory McCourt says the issue was increasingly coming up as he spoke to groups of students and student leaders across the country.
“Students across the country have been telling us that they’re worried about their job prospects. From Lincoln students worried about the resiliency of the primary and secondary sectors to keep taking on highly specialized graduates through to Waiariki polytechnic students concerned about regional economies, our students are anxious about their job prospects.”
For the largest cohort looking to graduate, 20 to 24 year olds, the unemployment rate is 11.8% for the September quarter, up from 10.5% twelve months ago, according to the Government's Household Labour Force Survey.
“These figures mean more graduates are joining the dole queue, and for most that’s a sad reward for racking up so much student debt.”
Mr McCourt says the Government was premature to tout a fall in the NEET (not in employment, education or training) figures. They actually worsened amongst 20-24 year olds, rising from 15% to 15.1% of the working age population for the year to September, even as the average amongst all 15-24 year olds fell 0.5% down to 11.0%.
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The NEET rate for that wider pool had jumped around between 11.0 and 11.3 per cent in five of the last eight quarters, so the current fall’s significance is questionable.
“Even if more 15-19 year olds are in training or education, our members say studying forever is not an option –especially with the Government cutting so much support to postgraduate students.”
Mr McCourt says the Government must do more combat unemployment, and seriously consider reversing cuts to student support if unemployment amongst young people continued to rise. Since 2010 the Government cut the number of students eligible for allowances by 24%.
The data also confirms trends seen in the NZUSA Income and Expenditure Survey that more students are taking on paid work to make ends meet. In 2015, there were 67.9% 20-24 year olds in employment and education at the same time, up from 55.9% in 2012. This development has been concerning some academics, with many students skipping classes to make shifts in part-time and full-time jobs.
Youth Unemployment 15-24 year olds
September 2014
13.67%
December 2014
14.94%
March 2015
15.43%
June 2015
14.07%
September 2015
15.33%
Youth Unemployment 20-24 year olds
September 2014
10.5%
December 2014
11.0%
March 2015
11.8%
March 2015
10.6%
September 2015
11.8%
Youth Unemployment 15-19 year olds
September 2014
19.4%
December 2014
21.4%
March 2015
21.4%
June 2015
20.3%
September 2015
21.8%
Note: Data taken from Household Labour Force Survey
ENDS
NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
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NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.
We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.
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