HRF Young Researcher Jason Hickson presented data collected about attitudes to finding work in the YOUnite Project. This project focuses on young people in the Hunter Region transitioning from school to work. Youth unemployment as of February 2015 stand at 18% or 1 in 5.

1. Wonderful world of work or just
wishful thinking?
Presenter: Jason Hickson

2. HEADING
SUB-HEADING
Text goes here…

3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK
Views from different groups
Proportion who believe that there are currently
not enough work opportunities for young
people in the Hunter
Young people still at school 45%
Young people who had
finished school and under 25
36%
Hunter residents 67%
Upper Hunter residents 70%
Hunter businesses 57%
• Least optimistic:
Residents of Upper Hunter
• Most optimistic:
Finished school, under 25

4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK
Long term: Taking the long way home
• Some responders were still optimistic about future
prospects even if opportunities did not exist now locally
• Even if work took them away, a number of focus group
participants expressed a desire to want to return to the
Hunter one day
• Diversification that leads to retention of skills in the
Hunter is key to avoiding a skills shortage or “brain
drain” locally.

5. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK
What are we missing?
For those who felt that there were not opportunities
locally for young people, we wanted to know what
those opportunities were:
• Design
• Engineering and science
• Arts
• Media
• Information Technology

6. WORK EXPERIENCE

7. WORK EXPERIENCE
What do we want and how do we get it?
• There appears to be a disconnect between workplaces
offering work experience and young people
• Responders felt that work experience opportunities were
limited or not adequately credited during high school
• Significant portion of businesses do offer work
experience locally

8. WORK EXPERIENCE

9. WORK EXPERIENCE
Where is improvement needed?
• Increase work experience opportunities in the Hunter
• Raise awareness of existing work experience options
• Improve communication between businesses and
schools about work experience options

10. REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK
Local firms doing the heavy lifting
• Local unemployment for young people is still high
• Businesses are doing their bit to help out with more
than 70% currently or previously employing young
people
• How do young people make themselves more
attractive employees?

11. REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK
TAFE? University? Both? Neither?
Impact on young people
future employment:
Hunter
Residents
Upper Hunter
Residents
Still At High
School
Finished
High School
Get a University degree
No impact at all 6% 10% 5% 2%
Minor impact 17% 19% 22% 22%
Moderate impact 39% 35% 29% 28%
Major impact 35% 32% 44% 49%
Get a TAFE qualification
No impact at all 2% 1% 3% 2%
Minor impact 13% 12% 19% 24%
Moderate impact 42% 40% 47% 50%
Major impact 41% 45% 31% 24%

12. PARTING THOUGHTS
The challenges we face…
• Lack of diversity in employment options and pathways
• Lack of opportunities in engineering, media, science,
ICT locally
• More effective communication around work
experience from all stakeholders

13. Thank you!