Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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A new publication released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme uses 1996 Census data to provide a unique insight into 12 to 25 year-olds in New South Wales.

The publication examines young people in terms of their distribution around the State, their cultural diversity, living arrangements, education status and working life. Additionally, it compares New South Wales' young people with the rest of the nation, and provides summary data on young people for all local government areas in NSW. Publications about youth in other States and Territories will be released over the next few weeks.

The National Youth Affairs Research Scheme is a cooperative arrangement between the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments to facilitate research into issues affecting young people.

Among the publication's key findings are that:

• One-third of Australia's young people live in NSW. They represent 20 per cent of the NSW population.

• Young people make up a declining proportion of all people in NSW, down by two per cent from 1986 to 1996, while the overall count increased by 11 per cent in the same 10 years.

• A high proportion of NSW young people were born overseas (16 per cent) compared to the national figure of 14 per cent, although this was a much smaller proportion than among people aged 26 years and over - 30 per cent of whom were born overseas.

• Among overseas-born young people the leading countries of birth were the United Kingdom (10 per cent), New Zealand (nine per cent), Viet Nam (nine per cent) and Hong Kong (seven per cent).

• Most 12 to 25 year-olds were still living with their parents, either as dependent children (under 15 years) - 20 per cent; as dependent students (aged 15 to 24 years) - 22 per cent; or as non-dependent children (aged over 15 years) - 22 per cent.

• From 1991 to 1996 there was an increase in the proportions of young people attending school (36 per cent to 38 per cent) and higher education institutions (eight per cent to nine per cent).

• Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of employed young people who were working part-time increased from 27 per cent to 36 per cent. Forty three per cent of employed young women were in part-time work.