Authors: Lucas Walsh, Beatriz Gallo Cordoba, Catherine Waite, Blake Cutler

The Australian Youth Barometer gauges the pressures currently experienced by young Australians. Following publication of the first Youth Barometer last year, we again surveyed over 500 young Australians aged 18 to 24 on a range of topics including the economy and work, education, health and wellbeing, relationships and civic participation.

Download the report: The 2022 Australian Youth Barometer: Understanding young people in Australia today

“This report contains many positive stories of young people navigating their way through life. The findings affirm that young people, generally, are resilient and have a positive outlook for their future. However, challenges remain.”
Lucas Walsh, Director, CYPEP

When we surveyed and interviewed young Australians last year, the spectre of COVID-19 loomed large over their lives, particularly those experiencing acute lockdowns along Australia’s eastern coast. Lives were severely disrupted; plans were put on hold. This year saw a gradual shift in the pandemic response: education institutions reopened, as did employment opportunities for certain kinds of work, but life has not necessarily returned to normal. Economic uncertainty and political turmoil have become more pronounced. We see global conflict between some countries and deep political divides within others. The impacts of climate change have assumed a more local dimension. There is an unshakable feeling of a world in transition. The findings of this year’s Australian Youth Barometer capture an important snapshot in time.

Some key findings of the 2022 Australian Youth Barometer:

• Only 53% of young people believe their education has prepared them for the future. The majority of young people wished their education had more focus on developing basic life skills, such as writing a CV, working with other people, voting and financial management.
• Young people filled these knowledge gaps by undertaking micro-credentials and informal online learning: 75% of young people engaged in informal learning opportunities outside of school and university on topics such as work-related skills, creative arts, wellbeing, finance, politics, and sex education.
• 56% of young Australians report earning income from gig work in the past 12 months, but most desire full-time, long-term secure work. Young people with a long-term illness or physical disability are more likely to earn income from gig work than other young people.
• Flexible hours, job security and a high salary are important to young people, but equally important is a job that is meaningful and makes a difference.
• 53% of young Australians think they will be worse off financially than their parents.
• 45% of young Australians felt they were missing out on ‘being young’.