The Easter long weekend has once again highlighted the adverse impact penalty rates are having on the hospitality sector, with the Courier-Mail reporting restaurants close over Easter as penalty rates see wages skyrocket. I’ve commented before on how penalty rates make it much more difficult for young people to get work and, given youth unemployment is re-emerging as an issue, particularly among those young people not studying (see chart below based on ABS data), it really is time to fix the problem.

My previous posts on penalty rates and youth unemployment include:

Reduce youth unemployment through improved regulation – e.g. of penalty rates, taxis

Challenging labour market conditions for young Australians

Hospitality suffering under IR regime

(Hat tip to one of my readers who goes by the nickname “Toad” for pointing out the data I’ve used in the chart to me.)