School Leavers in Australia: Profiles and Pathways. LSAY Research Report

The characteristics and pathways of school leavers in Australia were examined by analyzing data on the cohort of Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) young people who were in year 9 in 1995 along with data on previous cohorts of teenagers. Only 79% of members of the study cohort remained in secondary school until the end of year 12. In some respects, during the late teenage years, noncompleters fared better than completers who did not enter higher education. Noncompleters were more likely to be in full-time employment, receive higher hourly earnings, display greater job stability, and report being in the type of job they would like as a career. On other counts, however, noncompleters experienced less successful transitions from school than those of completers. Compared with completers not in higher education, male noncompleters were more likely to be unemployed and female noncompleters were more likely to be outside the labor force. It was emphasized that analyses at later points in time might reveal different and more substantial differences between the labor market activities of noncompleters and completers. (Fifty-eight tables/figures are included. The bibliography lists 62 references. The following items are appended: background information about the LSAY and other estimates of school noncompletion rates; descriptions of the study variables; and supplemental tables and figures.) (MN)