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Change needed in fight against youth unemployment

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

WITH youth unemployment at alarming levels in the Peel region, a shift might be needed in how people find work.

Youth underemployment is at a four-decade high and the Career Development Association of Australia is calling for changes in the hunt for elusive jobs, such as employability skills becoming an entrenched part of the school curriculum.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence released a report stating underemployment had become an entrenched feature of the youth labour market.

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“While 60 per cent of jobs are found through social connectedness, university graduates are doing 90 per cent of their applications online – this is an issue,” CDAA spokesperson Carolyn Alchin said.

“These statistics demonstrate that Australia’s youth are missing out on a significant portion of the job market simply by how they look for work.”

According to Ms Alchin, career development and employability skills support needs to be entrenched in our school curriculum and degree programs.

“We need to be enabling and engaging students in high school and tertiary education to build relationships and develop their employability skills,” she said.

“Strong networks will be vital in the future world of work so they can better connect with its constant evolution.”

The Makers chief executive Rhys Williams agreed, saying communications skills and networking gave job seekers an edge.

“It’s harder to be successful online,” he said.

“Young people need to show their point of difference.

“At Make Place we aim to grow ambition in young people.”

Mr Williams said the co-working space in Mandurah was designed to build connections and relationships.

He recommended job seekers volunteered in industries of interest.

“Find a mentor – even a peer mentor,” he said.

Mr Williams said most Millennials had five career changes in their lifetime and worked part time.

“The same rules don’t apply,” he said.

Visit www.cdaa.org.au to find a career development practitioner.