Research reveals young Australians bear the brunt of economic downturns, suffering greater job losses and higher unemployment rates than adults. In fact, young people aged 15-24 years are more than twice as likely to be unemployed compared with older Aussies1.
Alarming, youth unemployment is on a steady rise, with 8%2 of young Australians unemployed and a further 12% classified as NEET – "Not in Employment, Education, or Training”3. Despite this, an increasing number of businesses, and larger employers, are facing challenges in finding staff equipped with the necessary skills. In fact, just under a third (27%) of businesses reported having difficulty finding suitable staff to fill jobs4.
This World Youth Skills Day (15 July), Brooks Australia is encouraging young Aussies to strategically upskill and support themselves with new training. Alex Wang, an adult apprentice at Brooks Australia, who made the decision in his 40’s to change jobs, encourages young people to learn as much as they can while they’re young with apprenticeships a great way to do this.
“I wanted to change jobs to find something that I could learn and be educated further about. Advancing your career or finding a simple casual job can be impossible without the right skill set.”
“Luckily, I was given the opportunity to widen my skillset and train as a service technician. Being an apprentice at Books Australia has given me a comprehensive range of training from learning their fire system, to installations and product knowledge. Despite, turning to an apprenticeship later in life, I would encourage young people to give it ago as giving myself further training has opened new pathways and, has made me far more employable for the future!” says Wang.
Upskilling bridges the gap between young potential employers and businesses, aligning workforce capabilities with the evolving industry demands. Cathy Brand, CEO of Brooks Australia says the value of upskilling for young Australians paves the way for a more robust and dynamic economy.
“There is a pressing need for strategic initiatives to combat youth unemployment and meet evolving industry demands. By investing in tailored training and skills development, this gap can be bridged earlier on. Upskilling is the key that unlocks potential and gives people the right tools to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.”
“By providing targeted training and development programs, we can equip young people with the skills that employers are actively seeking. We understand that upskilling is not just about theoretical knowledge; it’s about practical applications and hands-on experience. That’s why we always offered tailored training initiatives designed to equip individuals with the skills they need to excel in the workforce,” says Ms Brand.
Encouragingly, Australians are demonstrating a remarkable willingness to learn. Research indicates that 69% of adults are open to acquiring new skills or entirely retraining to boost their future employability. This commitment to lifelong learning is even more prominent among younger adults, with the majority (80%) of those aged between 18 and 34 expressing readiness to broaden their skills base3.
This World Youth Skills Day (15 July), Brooks Australia is encouraging young Aussies to strategically upskill and broaden their employability, by offering a comprehensive range of training. Young Australians can receive training in their fire systems and products suited for testers, service technicians and installers. By supporting young Aussies with new skills, training and opportunities, Brooks Australia hopes to equip the young populations with the tools they need to navigate, adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing modern workplace.
To learn more, Australians can visit their website on https://www.brooks.com.au/commercial-fire-systems/training/.
About the Citations
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Youth Employment Index, 2022, Youth Futures Foundation
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https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/feb-2023
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https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/engagement-in-education-or-employment
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