The Government is questioning the extent of youth unemployment by claiming that many defined as unemployed may be at school or university.

The youth unemployment rate - for those aged 15 to 24 - is 17.4 per cent for the June quarter, according to the Household Labour Force Survey. For those aged 15 to 19, the rate balloons to 27.6 per cent.

Yesterday Prime Minister John Key downplayed this figure during question time, saying 60 per cent of the people being counted were at school or university.

Debate on this issue is now closed. Here is a selection of Your Views:

  1. your views
  2. Andrew says
    "Reintroduce the youth minimum wage rate but make it tax free or a lower youth tax rate."
  3. Dean says
    "Without having a certain level of morality to base the economy on then I believe all else is doomed to fail."
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