To be honest 17 is very young. I'd employ neither, without something that blew me away. I don't know that making that comparison is really relevant.
30 years and no work history implies some problem that has prevented them from working.
17 years implies a lack of life experience and likely a lack of soft skills. Once they hit their 20's however they're going to be less of a gamble, regardless of their work experience.
So yes at some point too much time will have passed for them to become more employable. But I was only thinking in a sub 5 year term. More as a means of encouraging someone in that situation, not as a hard and fast rule, that the older you are the more easily you're employed.
30 years and no work history implies some problem that has prevented them from working.
17 years implies a lack of life experience and likely a lack of soft skills. Once they hit their 20's however they're going to be less of a gamble, regardless of their work experience.
So yes at some point too much time will have passed for them to become more employable. But I was only thinking in a sub 5 year term. More as a means of encouraging someone in that situation, not as a hard and fast rule, that the older you are the more easily you're employed.