Labor market entry dynamics and mental health outcomes among young people with and without disability

Abstract

Young people with disability face significant barriers to stable employment. Yet, little is known about how early labor market experiences shape their long-term mental health. This study examines associations between early career insecurity and subsequent mental health trajectories, focusing on disability status as a key axis of inequality. We use nationally representative longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, following 1525 individuals aged 16 to 55 years over the period 2001 to 2022. Early career employment insecurity during the first five years after leaving education is constructed using sequence analysis, capturing the joint occurr..