Young people continue to bear the brunt of job losses. 

The latest Stats NZ figures reveal the unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 19 hit 23%, the highest in more than a decade. 

The age group also lost more than 70% of the 32,000 net jobs lost last year. 

Former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking young people typically bear the brunt. 

He says it's never got below around 13% even when the economy is at its strongest. 

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