The Vanishing Weekend Job: Why Australian Teens Are Struggling to Find Work

For many Australians, the first teenage pay packet is a rite of passage—a chance to earn some extra cash while studying. But for today's 16 and 17-year-olds, finding a part-time job feels increasingly out of reach. Youth unemployment is higher than it has been in a decade, squeezing younger teenagers out of the market as they compete with older jobseekers.

The Teenage Struggle: 'It's Just Horrible'

Megan, a 17-year-old from sixth form college, has spent months looking for work. "It's so hard," she says. "I've tried applying on websites but they don't accept you if you don't have work experience. But how are you going to get that work experience if nobody lets you get it? It makes me feel like I'm not wanted… It's just horrible."

Megan says trying to find a part-time job has been "horrible"

Elsebeth, also 17, echoes this frustration. "It's sort of impossible to be honest," she explains. "You apply for loads of them but you don't even hear anything back. Because you're a younger person, they don't want to actually give you any job, usually they just want full-time people."

Mavi, who found work at 16 through a family connection, considers himself lucky. "I think employers have an image in their head that you're young, you're not really going to take it seriously but, in the case of my friend group, I don't think that holds up at all," he says.

The Employer Perspective: Balancing Risk and Reward

Neil Wyatt, owner of South Downs Social cafe in Winchester, believes hiring young people is important. "We've always found young people to be super hard-working, super committed and they just bring a different energy on a busy Saturday or Sunday when we're full," he says. "They learn skills that will be with them for the rest of their life."

Cafe owner Neil Wyatt says young people "bring a different energy"

However, Wyatt acknowledges the challenges. "You are taking on perhaps a little more risk than someone who is already established in the job market," he explains. "They're going to need a bit more time and attention than someone who has already been there and done the job."

The current economic climate exacerbates these issues. "In the last three years, we've seen the average cost of the price for food go up by 25%, we've seen our energy costs go up 35%, the national living wage has gone up by just under 40%," Wyatt notes. "All those things are leaving ever smaller margins… and, therefore, we're less likely to take a risk on a young person when we can go for someone more established and who can work full time."

The Bigger Picture: Youth Unemployment and Competition

Dr Conor O'Kane, an economics professor at Bournemouth University, points to broader trends. "We've seen a lot of stuff in the news about graduates struggling to get jobs," he says. With youth unemployment (ages 18-24) at 16%, there is "just much more competition" for 16 and 17-year-olds in "traditional jobs they would have taken in hospitality, catering and that type of work."

Dr Conor O'Kane says 16 and 17-year-olds face more competition

Data from the UK Labour Force Survey reveals that only around a fifth of 16 to 17-year-olds were employed from November 2025 to January 2026. Unemployment rates for this age group stood at 29% during that period. Those aged 16 to 17 are more likely to be in full-time education, resulting in a lower employment rate and a higher economic inactivity rate than for 18 to 24-year-olds.

What's Changed? Minimum Wage Increases and Economic Pressures

From next month, the National Minimum Wage for under-18s will be £8. It has risen by 73% in the past five years, from £4.62 in the financial year starting April 2021. While this is positive for young workers, it can make employers more hesitant to hire inexperienced teens, especially when combined with rising business costs.

Practical Tips for Teen Job Seekers

Sadie Sharp, CEO of The Platform Project, a non-profit organisation that helps young people develop workplace skills, offers three key strategies:

1. Build micro experiences on your CV, such as running a community project or getting a day's work experience.
2. Put yourself in front of employers—record a mini-video, personally drop your CV in, or send an introduction email with your CV to stand out.
3. Apply even if you're not fully qualified—you won't get in unless you try, so submit your CV and see what happens.

Sadie Sharp helps young people develop skills to enter the workplace