Evaluation of the Australian Wage Subsidy Special Youth ...

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eligibility for programmes. Eligible youths were referred to employers by the CES and
administration of the programme was carried out by the CES.
In 1983, SYETP rates varied by age, with a lower $75 for 15-17 year olds but $100 for
18-24 year olds.
In 1984 programme conditions for employers included the development of a training plan
for the new employee, and the employer had to pay the relevant award wage (Smith
(1985): 15). In 1984, the standard rate of SYETP and the second phase of extended-
SYETP remained at $75, and the initial phase rate of extended-SYETP stayed at $100 per
week. In 1984, this was equivalent to “almost half the median full-time weekly earnings
of teenagers” (Smith (1984a): 15).
The SYETP programme ended at the end of December 1985. However, from a practical
viewpoint all subsidised employment in place would have continued until either the
placement ended or expiry of the subsidy period. Thus the scheme is considered to be
completed in practice at the end of September 1986, or between at most 17-34 weeks
after December 1985.
2.2.2 An overview of SYETP changes
The following Table 2.4 allows an overview of the changes to SYETP programme
definition over time. As a result of the variations introduced the programme became
increasingly complex. The age and unemployment duration necessary for eligibility
altered over time, as did the subsidy period and payment.
While ostensibly a flat rate, SYETP did have some tiers introduced. Tiers can alter the
target group as it leads to favouring of a particular group through more advantageous
subsidy, but in practice the effect might not be as expected due to the interaction with
other labour market features. A key aspect of change to the programme is that at various
stages, the subsidy rate paid varied by age, as did the unemployment benefit rate paid.
However, while early on there was no age variation for the subsidy but unemployment