Business · Economy · 4 hrs ago
Economists warn slowing Australian economy could raise youth unemployment
Australia’s youth unemployment rate reached 11.1% in September, compared with 4.7% for the whole workforce, according to official figures.
Economists say young workers are often hit harder when the economy slows, and expect youth unemployment could rise further in coming months.
Graduate job advertisements have declined from post-pandemic highs, with some large firms reducing graduate intakes.
Lachlan Riddell, 24, has applied for hundreds of jobs over three years and currently relies on casual audio-visual work and Jobseeker payments.
He says finding permanent work is difficult and that online applications often bring no response.
The picture is not entirely negative: the number of young people in work has continued to grow, and their employment rate remains above its 2019 average.
More young people are also looking for work, while economists expect softer demand for graduates if the economy weakens.
Australia’s youth unemployment rate was 11.1 per cent in September, compared with an overall unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent.
Economists warn a slowing economy could push youth unemployment higher in the coming months.
SEEK chief economist Blair Chapman said younger workers tend to be more affected by economic slowdowns.
Graduate job advertisements have declined from post-pandemic highs, and some large firms have reduced graduate intakes.
Youth employment has continued to grow, while more young people are participating in the labour market.
- Who
- Young people seeking work in Australia. Economists Blair Chapman and Harry Ottley discussed the risks.
- What
- Economists warned a slowing economy could raise youth unemployment.
- When
- The latest unemployment figures cited are for September. The article was published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- Economists said younger workers are often more affected by economic slowdowns, while graduate job advertisements have declined.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The youth employment-to-population ratio averaged 59.7 per cent, and youth participation averaged 67.7 per cent.
The youth employment-to-population ratio peaked at 66.7 per cent.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed youth unemployment at 11.1 per cent and overall unemployment at 4.7 per cent.
ABC Australia published its report on the risk of rising youth unemployment.
- Youth unemployment
- 11.1 per cent in September
- Overall unemployment
- 4.7 per cent in September
- Youth employment-to-population ratio
- 63.6 per cent
- Youth participation
- 71.4 per cent
- Job seeker
- Lachlan Riddell, 24-year-old Tasmanian audio-visual technician
- Graduate job ads
- Trending down after post-pandemic highs
What people are saying
We tend to see younger workers affected more heavily when there is a slowdown
The big four accounting firms are a good example of this as they reduced their intakes in response to declines in demand.
definitely rising more quickly than other cohorts
It's pretty hard financially to survive.