Skills, learning, training key to youth job crisis
A generation is in danger of being left behind in Tasmania, warns Helen Polley
THE world is changing at an increasing rate and young people are being left behind.
Youth unemployment has increased to 12.6 per cent and young people are less confident in their job skills and less optimistic about future employment prospects.
We cannot afford a generation to be unable to find work or unable to buy a home. This is what will occur if government does not make every effort to create opportunity and adequately address youth unemployment.
Recently, it was determined that Sorell in Tasmania’s South-East has the highest youth unemployment rate in the state, at 21.8 per cent. This means over one in five young people in the region are unable to get a job. This is extremely concerning, and many other parts of Tasmania suffer from similar figures.
It is possible the situation is under-represented and much worse. Labour force data is compromised because people are often considered employed if they only work a couple of hours in a fortnight.
It seems as a community we have accepted casualisation of the workforce, short-term contracts and insecure work are the norm. Employers argue they need a workforce that is skilled and people must have certification of their skills so they can contribute long term to a business and the sector more broadly.
The Tasmanian Council of Social Services is working with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to ensure we address regions where youth unemployment is damaging communities. This is welcome news but it is fundamental state and federal governments take vocational education more seriously.
The Federal Government’s budget cuts have seen our vocational education attainment freefall. In the past five years, they cut more than $3 billion from vocational education and training and $270 million from apprenticeship support.
These cuts hit hard in Tasmania where we have a huge skill shortage. TAFE courses have been cut, campuses are at risk of closure and TAFE teachers have lost their jobs. These cuts deter people from making the shift to TAFE after year 10, 11 or 12 and hinder an educator’s ability provide the best training. The cuts have a flow- on effect on the capacity of the state to meet demand for a skilled workforce. If we don’t produce enough talent, Tasmanian industry will fall short.
Frankly, if you haven’t got a plan for TAFE, you haven’t got a plan for innovation. Nine out of 10 new jobs created in the next four years will need a university degree or TAFE qualification. We must focus on partnerships across educational institutions.
It baffles me that a federal government is unable to find the money to properly fund TAFE but find $80 billion to give away to big business and the banks.
Uni isn’t for everyone. It isn’t the only path to a good job and in some cases doesn’t teach the skills industries need. We need to get serious about supporting Tasmanians to acquire the skills they need through vocational training as opposed to just going to uni.
In Tasmania, the skills shortage list includes bricklayers, chefs, aged care workers, early childhood educators, plumbers and hairdressers. It baffles me that a federal government is unable to find the money to properly fund TAFE but find $80 billion to give away to big business and the banks.
We need to properly fund an accessible TAFE system.
We need to create a culture of education and learning and ensure a greater take up of education post year 10, 11 and 12. This means earlier engagement of TAFE with young people who know they won’t go to uni. Why wait until students are in grade 10 to get them thinking about TAFE?
I’m proud to represent an Australian Labor Party that will create opportunities for our kids, scrap upfront fees and make it easier for Tasmanians to gain skills. Tasmanian Labor senator Helen Polley is assistant minister to the leader (Tasmania) and spokeswoman for ageing.