Is the health of young unemployed Australians worse in times of low unemployment?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the health of young unemployed Australians during a period of low unemployment (April 2007: rate 4.4%) against published Australian norms for 18-24 year olds and unemployed people during a time of higher unemployment (February 1995 to January 1996: rate 8.1% to 8.9%).


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-one unemployed 18-25 year olds residing in New South Wales completed the SF36 Health Survey version 2 (SF36v2) during a time of low unemployment. SF36v2 subscale and component summary scores were compared with published norms for 18-24 year olds and for unemployed persons during a time of higher unemployment.


RESULTS
Young unemployed people during a period of low unemployment reported poorer health in all areas when compared with age-matched norms and poorer psychological health when compared with the published norms for unemployed people from a time when unemployment rates were higher.


CONCLUSIONS
The health of young unemployed individuals during a time of low unemployment was poor when compared to both the general population and to unemployed people during a time of higher unemployment.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health interventions must focus on improving the health of young unemployed people to support their engagement with and contribution to Australian society.
Scanlan
Justin Newton
JN
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jsca9701@mail.usyd.edu.au
Bundy
Anita C
AC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult