Weekend Job News: Women and Youth Hit Hardest

While Australia’s overall unemployment rate has stabilised in recent years, underemployment remains a persistent issue—especially for young people and women. These groups are overrepresented in part-time and casual roles, and often struggle to secure the hours or job security they need.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the national unemployment rate sits at around 4% in 2025, but the broader underutilisation rate—which includes both unemployed and underemployed workers—is closer to 10%. For younger Australians (aged 15–24), this figure rises significantly, with many unable to find stable or sufficient work.

Young Australians: Working, but Wanting More

Many young people depend on casual or part-time jobs while studying or transitioning into full-time employment. But when businesses reduce hours or cut costs, this group is often the first to feel the impact.

• Approximately 1 in 5 young workers (aged 15–24) are underemployed in 2025
• Retail, hospitality, and admin support services—key youth employment sectors—continue to face volatility
• Youth underemployment remains more than double the national average

This highlights the need for better employment pathways and training options to help young Australians transition into more secure, full-time roles. Consider exploring nationally recognised Certificate III qualifications or short courses that improve job readiness in areas like customer service, trades, IT, and health support.

Women and Underemployment: A Longstanding Challenge

Underemployment also disproportionately affects women, especially mothers and carers. Women are more likely to work part time, either by choice or necessity, and often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities. In 2025:

• The underemployment rate for women remains around 8.7%, compared to 6.5% for men
• Women dominate sectors with higher casualisation, such as education, healthcare, and retail
• Access to affordable and flexible child care remains a barrier to full-time workforce participation

The Care Workload Gap Persists

Despite advances in workplace equity, research continues to show that working mothers perform more unpaid labour—such as childcare and housework—than their male counterparts. A 2023 study by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) found that:

• Women still take on the majority of unpaid domestic work—even when working full time
• Working mothers experience higher rates of burnout and stress compared to men with children
• Part-time working mothers contribute the same or more hours overall when unpaid labour is counted

Balancing paid work with caregiving continues to be a significant challenge—and often a driver of reduced economic participation for women over time.

Child Care Reforms: A Double-Edged Sword?

The Federal Government has been gradually implementing reforms aimed at improving early childhood education, including raising the minimum qualifications of childcare workers and increasing educator-to-child ratios. These changes are designed to improve developmental outcomes, but also come with cost pressures.

While increased training requirements are essential for quality care, the Department of Education acknowledges that additional funding and workforce support will be needed to meet demand and avoid pricing parents out of care services.

To support the workforce, there is also growing investment in training and upskilling through fee-free places in qualifications such as the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

What Can Be Done?

To improve employment outcomes for women and young Australians, coordinated efforts are needed across government, business, and education. This includes:

• Creating more pathways to traineeships and apprenticeships in growth industries
• Offering greater flexibility and security in part-time roles
• Supporting working parents with affordable, high-quality child care
• Encouraging equitable division of domestic work and paid parental leave

Whether you’re a young job seeker or a parent navigating work-life balance, investing in practical training or upskilling can be a powerful way to secure better hours and long-term opportunities. Explore our full library of nationally recognised online courses to get started.