Originally published: news.com.au
AFTER receiving their high school results over the past fortnight, graduates across Australia will be thinking long and hard about their options.
But while they’re going through their course options and preparing job applications, anxious about the dwindling graduate employment rate and competition for positions, there’s one category of jobs that will likely be overlooked.
Analysis by jobs website Adzuna has revealed the jobs that Australians just aren’t interested in, with trades and construction coming out on top.
With minimal qualifications required, you’d think trades would be a popular choice.
The report showed that while jobs advertised in the construction industry has increased by 10 per cent, apprenticeship commencements were down 5.6 per cent year on year.
Adzuna CEO Raife Watson called on schools to remind students of the option of vocational education and training as an alternative to university.
“Despite reports that the residential construction boom in Sydney is starting to wind down, we continue to see growth year-on-year in advertised vacancies across a wide selection of job roles in trades and construction,” he said.
“The primary concern for the construction industry is the continued decline in apprenticeship commencement rates.”
Apparently young Aussies are just not into trades or construction
Mr Watson said there was a “stigma” associated with TAFE studies and apprenticeships that Australia needed to work to remove.
“Twenty-three university graduates compete for each role, whereas in some Australian states, two jobs are available for all qualified apprentices,” he said.
“I expect this number to increase in the coming years as apprenticeship numbers continue to decline.”
In South Australia, where school leavers’ results were released this morning, graduates are being urged to consider taking on a trade or traineeship.
Business SA says apprenticeships and traineeships are viable career options as Australia faces a skills shortage across a range of industries.
Sharyn Davies, from Apprenticeship Support Australia which is administered by Business SA, said a high score in year 12 is not a guarantee for future success.
“It’s more important for young people to follow their passions,” she said.
“When we are doing something that aligns with our strengths, skills and passions, we have a higher level of wellbeing and are more likely succeed in building a successful career.”