New pathway to find work

YOUNG Hobart job seeker Tamika Monks is just the kind of person the State Government hopes to help with its range of youthfocused jobs measures.

After completing year 12 and doing some part-time work at the LINC during school, Ms Monks has struggled to get a job.

“Employers are wanting younger people because they want to pay them less. There are people who are older that get work because they have experience, and I’m stuck in the middle,” she said.

Ms Monks, 19, of Moonah, is participating in the Colony 47 transition to work program, where she is gaining additional skills to better her chances of getting a job.

She is keen to find work so she can contribute more to the household and help her mum.

“I’d like to have more education behind me so I can have more of a chance of getting a really good job,” she said.

Ms Monks does not yet have her drivers licence, which she knows will be a barrier to getting some jobs, and supports anything that can help people get their licence.

She suggested more work experience opportunities for students would increase the job prospects of school leavers.

Ms Monks welcomed incentives to encourage employers to hire young people including payroll tax relief and $4000 for businesses to employ a trainee.