This discussion paper estimates the economic cost of underemployment in Australia, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current estimates suggest as many as 700,000 people may soon be signed up to Jobactive employment services. This discussion paper argues there is a need to redesign employment services to better meet the needs of people experiencing unemployment after the COVID-19 economic shock.

Australia’s governments are rightly spending record amounts trying to cushion Australian workers and businesses from the worst impacts of this unprecedented crisis. This paper shows that the economic shock from COVID-19 is going to be so big that more support will be needed.

This paper outlines numerous employment programs that are funded by the Australian and state governments and are open to young people (at July 2019). It shows the scope and focus of government investment, as well as some limitations.

This analysis highlights the intense pressure on young Australians. Young people facing long-term unemployment today are worse off than a decade ago, when far fewer of them – one in ten jobseekers – were unemployed for a year or more, compared with the nearly one in five now.