Under 20s pick work over study
Young New Zealanders are increasingly choosing to earn rather than head off to university after school, a study says.
That was the case for retail assistant Rhyannon Hectors, 21, who started work four years ago straight from school. ‘‘I needed money to help at home,’’ she said.
According to Stats NZ, since 2004 the proportion of workers aged from 20 to 24 rose 8.9 per cent and 7.5 per cent of that number were just working and not studying. This was the highest proportion of people from that age group not studying since 2002.
‘‘This data suggests that many young people are heading straight into the workforce after completing their school education, rather than continuing with further study,’’ labour market statistics manager Sean Broughton said.
Despite the desire to complete a degree, Hectors said it was hard for a young person to afford it. ‘‘I don’t want to start my adult life with a huge debt on a student loan. It’s stressful.
‘‘I have a friend that has a debt of $30,000 for her design degree and now she works in a printing place. It is a really difficult situation.’’
Bridget McGechan, the vice-president of the Students’ Association at Wellington’s Massey University, believed young people were going straight into the workforce because they wanted to earn money straight away.
‘‘University study doesn’t afford that opportunity. I believe young people don’t want always to commit to study and view entering the workforce fulltime as an easier and more attractive option – even if they’re low paid, low skilled jobs,’’ McGechan said.
President of Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association Marlon Drake agreed and said students who wanted to enter tertiary education faced barriers.
‘‘Often we first think of the loan, but the reality is that day-to-day living costs are far higher now than they used to be. Many of our students have to work while they study just to survive, so if you’re a young person leaving high school you’re probably thinking why not just work?"
He believed a change in the policy, such as a universal student allowance, would help.
‘‘This would be a game changer for young people who want to be able to fully dedicate themselves to their studies and would result in a culture shift which would provide greater access and confidence for those thinking about pursuing tertiary education.’’
Despite the increase in people choosing work over study, Universities New Zealand data shows the number of enrolments in universities has grown since 2008. Other employment stats: The number of 20-24 year old people not in employment, education, or training ( decreased from 19.7 percent (2012) to 15.2 per cent (2018).
The number of working women not in education increased by 37,600, while men had a smaller rise (up
29,200).
In the March 2012 quarter,
11.4 per cent of 20-24-year-old women were not in the labour force or education due to care giving. Six years on, this number has dropped to 6.1 per cent.