Leading employment services provider, atWork Australia, is reaffirming its commitment to empowering young Australians by supporting the World Youth Skills Day message of access to the training, skills, and opportunities necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving job market. The company is calling on Aussie employers to not overlook them, especially as they strive to ease worker shortages.
Despite Australian unemployment rates hovering at near record lows of 3.5%, the youth unemployment rate is more than double that of the general population at 7.8%.1 And while youth unemployment rates have dropped in recent years to the current level, the proportion still represents a significant underutilisation of this population.
Commenting on World Youth Skills Day, atWork Australia Ambassador, Shaun Pianta, said: “World Youth Skills Day serves as a reminder of the immense potential that lies within our Australian youth. As the world continues to advance in every area, the skills required for success are evolving at an unprecedented pace. We can’t overlook the potential young Australians hold and we must all invest in their development by supporting them, giving them opportunities, and equipping them with the tools necessary to navigate challenges.”
Unstable employment disproportionately impacts young people, with young Australian workers aged 15-24 more likely to be in unstable jobs than those aged over 25, and approximately 22% underemployed.1 The casual and part-time work conditions largely held by young workers means that securing long-term sustainable employment is harder for young people.
World Youth Skills Day, observed internationally each year in July, aims to raise awareness about the importance of equipping young people with the necessary skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and decent work. While this year’s theme, Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future, highlights the essential roles that teachers, trainers and other educators play in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market, atWork Australia is also urging employers to play their part and give young people a chance.
“Young people have not yet had the chance to build up significant work experience so what we would say to prospective employers is if you look beyond this and are willing to take a chance to support them in training and development, you can be rewarded with a larger pool of potential candidates who are eager to work, hungry to learn and brimming with fresh and diverse perspectives on how to approach things,” added Shaun.
Curtis, a 22-year-old from Craigieburn, has been receiving support from atWork Australia and is now excited to start his new position as a tiling apprentice.
“Full-time employment is important to me because I want to do something with my life. You go places with a full-time job. You can start saving up for a house, your dream car, for things that you want in life, whereas if you don't have full-time employment, you won't have as much of a chance to get these things.”
“Take everything step by step, don't stress too much about it. Especially if you're with atWork Australia, as they are here to help and the jobs they've found for me have been good jobs. If you haven't figured out what career you want to do yet, that's alright,” Curtis said when asked about his tips for young people who are looking for work.
“Young people make up a significant proportion of the workforce in hospitality, retail, building, warehousing, and housekeeping industries. We recognise the importance of working alongside employers to connect them to young, eager, and job-ready candidates like Curtis,” added Shaun.
atWork Australia’s role is to connect more people and businesses so both can thrive. The company works with clients to improve diversity and inclusion in Australian businesses and find creative solutions so everyone can find employment that is right for them.
To find out more about atWork Australia’s support services, please visit: www.atworkaustralia.com.au.
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About atWork Australia
atWork Australia has been delivering employment services on behalf of the Australian Government since 2003. From more than 360 locations around the nation, atWork Australia delivers Disability Employment Services (DES), Workforce Australia and ParentsNext, connecting people and business so both can thrive.
Partnering with more than 3,500 employers across the country, atWork Australia placed 18,400 Australians into meaningful and sustainable employment in 2022, across a diverse range of industries and occupations. www.atworkaustralia.com.au
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Labour Force Statistics. May 2023. Available at https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release Accessed 10 July 2023.
Contact details:
Jill Calder, SenateSHJ, +61 419 508 597 or jill@senateshj.com.au