Precarious employment and mental health among young Australians with disability: a mixed-methods study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

There is increasing recognition of the challenges young people face in navigating precarious labour markets, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the relationship between precarious employment and mental health remains underexplored, especially for young people with disability who face systemic labour market barriers. This study uses data from the Australian Youth Employment Study to: (1) examine patterns of precarious employment among young people with and without disability; (2) compare precarious employment and mental health outcomes across these groups; and (3) explore the lived experiences of young people with disability regarding precarious employment and mental health d..