A Tauranga employment expert says it's vital youth develop a work ethic at a young age or risk a lifetime of failure.
Job Finders owner Gail McKenzie has more than 20 years' experience working in the employment field. She said years spent seeing second and third generation unemployed coming through her doors has drawn her to the conclusion that the example set at home is crucial.
"If there is no work ethic developed at [in the teenage years], in most cases it carries through into adulthood,."
Mrs McKenzie said there had been an attitudinal shift in the generations and taking a gap year after secondary school was now common. But the gap year may not involve work.
"Some do not recover from this for years as it can become a lifestyle, especially if their friends are not working as well," she said.