Creating fertile ground for future projects is critical to the success of employment initiatives. Innovative collaboration with expert partners enables us to lay strong foundations for ongoing efforts to support disadvantaged cohorts across the state – and this project, with Victoria University and YLAB, highlighted some of the most critical ingredients for success for young people in Melbourne’s west.
As Australia emerged from the COVID-19 downturn, the need for industry and higher education (HE) providers to collaborate on education and skill developments was critical for the Australian economy to effectively recover.
In the West of Melbourne, we identified that young people need urgent support to better prepare for the labour market. The need for innovative employment solutions is particularly acute, with youth unemployment in this area tracking at double the state average. Higher levels of intergenerational unemployment, low social capital and depleted networks, and a high proportion of workers commuting out of the area to work contribute to challenges for young people seeking their next steps.
We worked with Victoria University and YLAB to understand the environment into which employment solutions could be implemented. The project scoped the policy and labour market environment, the demographics of the local area, and the appetite of employers to experiment with new modes of hiring. The outcome is an innovative model that brings employers, suppliers, higher education institutions, buyers and job services together to enhance job prospects for young people in the region.
Key findings highlight:
- The importance of facilitating early engagement between students and employers
- The identification of projects that specifically address skills and jobs shortages
- The need to rejuvenate the ‘earn and learn’ apprenticeship model: Apprentices and trainees generally have better opportunities to earn more and gain full-time employment, as well as higher levels of job satisfaction
- The integration of incentive programs at all levels to make it easier for employers to engage with young people as they learn
To read the full report visit: Jobs and Training Pathways for young people in the Western Region
About Jobsbank
At Jobsbank, we are passionate about inclusion and the difference it makes – not just to one person but to teams and whole organisations. We believe in an Australia where everybody belongs. That’s why we’re helping to build more inclusive workplaces one business at a time.
