Another positive feature is a much lower (and falling) incidence of long-term unemployment among NZ youth than in most other OECD countries. However, the penalty to lower qualifications in the form of unemployment risk has declined markedly since the previous downturn in 1998, even if it has slightly rebounded since the crisis (Figure 2.2), and it is now lower than elsewhere in the OECD (Table 2.2). This could reflect diminishing marginal employment gains from rising educational attainment, as well as skills shortages which have allowed even those with poor qualifications to find work. However, cyclical factors were probably paramount as the 1999-2006 economic boom tightened already taut labour markets, bidding in many marginal workers.