Surprise! Millennials Are Struggling to Find Employment (But They're Trying Harder Than Boomers Think)

One in five have been trying for over a year.

A report released by an Australian anti-poverty organisation, Brotherhood of St. Laurence, has revealed nearly 20 per cent, or 50,500, of young people aged between 15 and 24 are now considered to be long-term unemployed. This means they have spent more than a year trying to gain employment.

But the report outlines this not through lack of trying. 

The report, based on data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, found that 73.2 per cent of unemployed youth had attempted to get a job through writing, phoning or applying in person to an employer for work and 56.7 per cent answered an advertisement for a job; both higher percentages than the "25 and over" responses.

So much for the maligned stereotypes of laziness and apathy that millennials are often accused of having.

The most common reasons for youth being locked out of employment was lack of experience (41.3 per cent) and lack of education (32.9 per cent), with fewer entry-level jobs being available and a slow job market attributing to the issue as well.

Since 2005, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in the availability of entry-level jobs and up to 44 per cent of jobs are at risk of automation. It's some pretty dire stuff.

But, thankfully, the report recommends some things that governments can do to help rectify (or at least, lessen) the impact of the issue. It encourages local, state and federal governments look into this issue and invest in the economic development of these industries to create more opportunities for the future.

Let's hope it's enough.

Photo: iStock.com/golubovy