Youth Unemployment in Australia: The Role of Race and Gender

Sociology
Contemporary Society
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Sociology
Introduction
The presentation seeks to determine and analyze the issue of youth unemployment based on two
social science concepts that are race and gender (Junankar, 2015). In doing so we are going to
determine how gender and race have contributed to increasing levels of youth unemployment in
Australia.
Background of youth unemployment in Australia
Unemployment is often used as a measure of the health a certain economy. It usually happens
when a person who is actively seeking for a job fails to find one. Statistics indicate that the
overall rate of unemployment in Australia is at around 5.8% which corresponds to about 710000
unemployed Australians. The unemployment rate for youths is at 12.4% which is about twice as
high as the overall unemployment rate and corresponds to about 250000 Australians (Lamb,
2011).
The blame to this kind of trend has been pointed towards many issues such as the fact that most
of the youths combine studies and work (Mueller,Ouimet & Simintzi, 2017). This, therefore,
makes it almost impossible for youths to seek active employment. In addition to this, although
younger workers are relatively cheaper in comparison to other older workers, the young workers
often miss some really essential aspects needed in the job market such as enough skills and
experience (Harkness, 2013). Moreover, statistics indicate that last year alone, 70% of young
people graduated with university degrees from different recognized institutions and centers of
high learning. The bitter truth is that only 17% of this population managed to secure employment
of which some are not on a permanent basis.

Sociology
There have been concerns as to why young people are graduating with various degrees and yet
fail to secure employment opportunities. Is it most probable that these young people are
graduating with degrees that do not match the skills needed in employment? The answer to this
question is no. The issue is not about the quality of degrees that these young people graduate
with. The main issue is about the economic system of the country that has for a long time failed
to deliver outcomes in favor of the young generation (Reeson, Measham & Hosking,2012).
Race and gender are two social science concepts that could provide clarity concerning the issue
of youth unemployment in Australia.
The concept of race and youth unemployment in Australia
According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, cases of racial discrimination are still
common in Australia despite its multicultural society. Quite a number of Australians have
continued to face racial discrimination in various sectors such as in employment (Mueller,
Ouimet, Simintzi, 2017). The concept of white race privilege works in a way that it favors only
the whites and oversees other racial orientations in issues such as employment. Other races and
some indigenous Australians, as well as immigrants, are considered to be insignificant and
inherently inferior over the white race. This is a trend that has been seen in various sectors of the
Australian economy including the Australian public service. For white counterparts, studies
indicate that there is a very and relatively high rate of employment than jobs lost for young
people (Lamb,2011).
The basis of most employment opportunities that are being offered to the no-white races in
Australia entails preference in casual, part-time and seasonal employment while the whites are