Young Australians have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people make up just 14% of the workforce but bore 55% of the job losses during the 2021 lockdowns. This crisis has compounded decades of high youth unemployment and underemployment. 

This report shows how drastic the impact on youth employment was, using official statistics and qualitative data from eight consultations with diverse groups of young people conducted by Youth Action between July and September 2021. It makes policy recommendations developed in collaboration with young people.