Indigenous youth employment and the school-to-work transition

The employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth (aged 15-29 years) increases in the years immediately following the end of compulsory schooling and continues to widen into the 20s. Indigenous youth are also more likely to work in part-time, casual and unskilled jobs than non-Indigenous youth. The situation for young Indigenous women is markedly worse than for men, even though educational participation and attainment is similar. Early labour market experiences are likely to have both immediate and ongoing effects, reducing income, wealth accumulation and impeding future labour market success. However, there are signs of improvement in the labour market situation for Indigenous youth, particularly in non-remote areas. Between 2011 and 2016, educational participation and employment increased. Growing educational attainment is likely to further improve employment rates because Indigenous youth who have completed Year 12 have far better outcomes in the labour market than early school leavers.