The research was conducted by Qualtrics in support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Forum Engagement Group on the Future of Work, which is focused on helping young people find professional opportunities, harness their skills and experience in a way that employers will value, and better understand their workplace expectations.
- Insights from around 5,000 young people between ages 19 to 24, living across six different OECD, including 500 in Australia found:
- Only 37% of young Australians feel very or extremely prepared by their education for the job market – with 25% citing concerns regarding looking for a job and 32% not feeling prepared to compete against other candidates.
- Facing challenging economic conditions, 37% of working respondents in Australia report being underemployed, meaning they are working part-time when they prefer to work full-time or are in a temporary position when they prefer a permanent position.
Participation in work-based training, such as apprenticeships and job specific training, is the top driver of perceived job preparedness in Australia.
Majority of young Australians expect education institutions to lead the way in giving advice on how and where to look for a job, while believing it’s the government’s responsibility to provide resources for education and training opportunities.
“When you consider talent shortages are often cited by leaders as one of the biggest obstacles to long-term success and Australia’s current skills gaps, ensuring young Australians feel prepared to enter the working world is now mission critical. While it’s been encouraging to see increasing collaboration between government, academia, and industry to equip all Australians with in-demand skills, the Qualtrics findings are an important reminder of the work still to do and the types of programs and initiatives that will have the biggest impact on our long-term success,” said Phillip Bland, Head of Government Strategy – ANZ, Qualtrics.
Andreas Schleicher Director for Education and Skills, OECD said “Education should help young people accomplish their personal and professional goals. If that’s not happening, we need to take a careful look at the transition from school to work to ensure students are prepared to excel and meet life’s challenges, not just in the classroom, but in the world of employment as well.”
