Research shows students aren’t feeling confident about entering the workforce

Young Australians aren’t feeling prepared to enter the job market. Just 37 per cent believe they have the necessary training to do so, with many calling for the government and education system to be more involved.

According to Smoothing the transition from school to work with work-based learning from experience management company Qualtrics, 37 per cent of Australians between the ages of 19 and 24 are underemployed, meaning they aren’t working in a permanent full-time role.

Thirty-two per cent of young Australians don’t feel confident they can compete with other job candidates, and 25 per cent are concerned about job hunting.

“When you consider talent shortages are often cited by leaders as one of the biggest obstacles to long-term success and Australia’s current skills gaps, ensuring young Australians feel prepared to enter the working world is now mission critical,” said Phillip Bland, Qualtrics head of government strategy ANZ.

“While it’s been encouraging to see increasing collaboration between government, academia, and industry to equip all Australians with in-demand skills, the Qualtrics findings are an important reminder of the work still to do and the types of programs and initiatives that will have the biggest impact on our long-term success.”

According to Smoothing the transition from school to work with work-based learning, half of global respondents said that the pandemic has been the biggest impact on their employment opportunities.

Education is crucial to job preparedness, said Qualtrics; however, governments and education institutions are reportedly not doing enough to support young candidates.

Qualtrics noted that the top program that will help young people with job preparedness is an apprenticeship, yet this is also the most infrequent offering at educational institutions.

When offered apprenticeships, 52 per cent of students globally felt confident to enter the workforce. This drops to 33 per cent when they aren’t. This begs the question — Why are apprenticeships so uncommon?

Dr Sydney Heimbrock, Qualtrics head of industry advisory, commented: “Taking the time to listen to students’ experiences entering the workforce and understanding the specific challenges they face can help government and education institutions create the right interventions that will help ensure this generation of young people does not get left behind.”

“If we understand the real drivers of job preparedness, we can put resources toward education, apprenticeship and training programs that have the most impact.”

Young people are relying on the government and education providers to assist them in transitioning into a job.

According to the report, 58 per cent of global respondents believe the government should provide resources for career education and training. Seventy per cent believe the education system should provide guidance, and 61 per cent said that educators should be placing them in related programs.

“Education should help young people accomplish their personal and professional goals. If that’s not happening, we need to take a careful look at the transition from school to work to ensure students are prepared to excel and meet life’s challenges, not just in the classroom, but in the world of employment as well,” said Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.