The slowdown in Queensland’s economy since the financial crisis has disproportionately affected young people (aged 15-19), many of whom are obviously waiting for the good times to return rather than go to TAFE or university. The chart below is from the ABS’s very useful new web resource State and Territory Statistical Indicators.

Unfortunately the chart’s title is slightly misleading because the 20% figure will include a significant number of young people who are either working part-time or studying part-time. As the ABS notes on the website:

People who are not fully engaged in education or work fall into three main categories: those who are neither studying nor working; those who are studying part-time and not working; and those who are working part-time and not studying.