Presentation to Social and Community Development Forum – Youth

Employment

Bevan Chuang, Member of Ethnic Peoples Advisory PanelKizito Essuman, Student President, AUT University

Ethnic Youth Employment

• Unemployment rates amongst non-Asian ethnic youth are not well documented

• Barriers to employment:o Family pressureo Discriminationo Lack of skillso Lack of “New Zealand experience”o Lack of career development

supporto Language

Ethnic Youth Employment

• Ethnic youth unemployment will increase the prevalence of anti-social behaviour

• A greater barrier amongst disabled ethnic youth

• Lack of career pathways for international students

• Lack of pathway in and out of tertiary education

• Lack of support for ethnic school leavers

Unemployment rate, young people

aged 15 to 24 by ethnicity, 1999-

2007

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey, December year end average.

RecommendationsAuckland’s Priorities

• Children and young people have been identified as Auckland’s top priority

• Ensure that the Southern Initiative includes the ethnic youth who are also disadvantaged

• Ensure that ITOs recognises ethnic youth as an important employment force and have a plan to engage with them

RecommendationsAuckland’s Priorities

• Support, promote and enhance existing community development programmes by Auckland Council such as Roskill Youth Zone and Creative Communities funding to ethnic youth

• Supporting community development programmes by NGOs and community organisations aimed at ethnic employment

Some unemployment issues that

young people/students/graduates face• Employers not interested in people without

experience• Low paid, with unsociable hours and little job

security for young people with well-developed skills

• Lack of adequate support from communities, city council and organisations.

• (Source: Department of Labour)

Youth Unemployment Rates• As at June 2012, 317,700 youth were in

employment (49.8% of youth population)• Most aged 15 – 24 years work part-time, often

around their tertiary studies• Employment rate has decreased by 7.8% for the

last 5 years.• Rate of unemployment among those aged 15 – 24

years is 16.8%• One of the highest share of unemployment of

youth population in the OECD

Youth Unemployment Rates

Youth Unemployment Rates

• As at June 2012, unemployment rate for youth is 16.8%• 6.5% higher than its level in 5 years ago

Recommendations to Council

• Help put young people into the industry by giving them some on-the-job training and experience or internships

• Build local support networks to ensure that those most at risk from long term unemployment are given tailored support to help them into work

• Encourage local businesses to include youth sustainability clauses when bidding for Council contracts.