Recently tasmanianjobs.com has increasingly been contacted by graduates lamenting the fact that they can not secure a meaningful job in Tasmania. It may be a case of over supply of graduates for the available jobs in Tasmania, but it may also be that employers are reluctant to employ or invest in recent graduates. With access to suitably qualified people being the number one constraint for Tasmanian businesses for 17 consecutive quarters, as identified by the TCCI Business Expectations Report released last week, it would appear that Tasmania’s youth, and particularly graduates, are an under-utilised resource for addressing skill and labour shortages in Tasmania.These graduates are reporting to tasmanianjobs.com that they are being offered opportunities interstate, however would prefer to stay in Tasmania. Essentially, young Tasmanians are being forced to leave the state to gain meaningful employment opportunities in their preferred career path.
While Tasmania is reporting it’s lowest ever unemployment levels, currently 4.3% and equal to the national rate[1], the breakdown of unemployment and participation rates by age group provide a poignant insight into the realities of Tasmania’s labour market.
The above chart details the unemployment and participation statistics for Tasmanians by age group. As illustrated, it is Tasmania’s younger age groups that have the highest rates of unemployment. With the ageing of the population and imminent cross over of more labour market exits than entrances, Tasmania’s youth provides a real opportunity to retain skilled, educated persons and labour supply in the state.
2 comments:
Hi Lisa
Such a great idea - starting this blog as an open forum for employment-related topics. I hadn't realised the issue of this first post topic of yours was such a big thing. I knew some graduates left the state on completion of their degree, but assumed it was because they could get a better pay packet on the mainland.
Helen
Hi Helen
thanks for being the first contributor to the tasmanianjobs.com blog!
Yes, I believe graduates do leave the state in search of greener pastures, to spread their wings and/or bigger pay packets, but there are also those that want to stay in Tasmania, some who do get jobs here, others who are forced to go elsewhere.
Many employers however advise that many of those graduates that do obtain work here get experience and their professional qualifications (eg CPA etc) over three to five years and then leave the state for greener pastures.
This often leaves employers frustrated and reluctant to invest in the employment and training of graduates again.
It would be interesting to hear other comments or proposed solutions or strategies to assist both our youth and our employers.
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