Employers urged to empower younger workers

There are calls for Australian business leaders to look at ways to empower young people, with new figures showing disproportionately lower rates of employment when compared to older generations.

According to atWork Australia, despite the country’s unemployment rates hovering at near-record lows, the youth unemployment rate is more than double that of the general population at 7.8 per cent.

Further, the organisation stated that young Australian workers aged 15 to 24 are more likely to be in unstable jobs than those aged over 25, and approximately 22 per cent are underemployed.

The figures have sparked calls for employers to do their part in empowering young Australians. According to atWork, training, skills, and enlisting opportunities necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving job market could be all the difference.

“As the world continues to advance in every area, the skills required for success are evolving at an unprecedented pace,” atWork Australia ambassador Shaun Pianta said.

“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.

“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.”

Businesses that employ casual and part-time workers are in a prime position to empower younger Aussies, Mr Pianta flagged.

“Young people make up a significant proportion of the workforce in hospitality, retail, building, warehousing, and housekeeping industries,” he explained.

Craigieburn local, Curtis, 22, has been receiving support from atWork Australia and recently started a new position as a tiling apprentice.

He said the support offered has been instrumental in getting him up and running.

“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,” Curtis said.

“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.”