Career Advice for the Next Generation of Workers – We Have a Problem

I wonder how many of us ended up in the role our school career advisor predicted?

Sure, nobody really knows “what they want to be” when they grow up. Many of us are still figuring that out. Would you have a better idea of what you wanted to do if you were prepared better for the world of work when you were at school?

Now, this isn’t an article to talk about how our education system is broken". I don't think it is. You won’t hear a revolutionary rant to recreate the communist manifesto from me (ever). I want to highlight, though, that there’s a problem facing us and our next generation of workers (or at least something, I feel, that we can do better).

‘We have a problem with career advice in Australia. In short, it isn’t working in most schools.’ ( National Youth Commission Australia )?

Some Context:

Australia’s class of 2022 is on the last lap. They can see the finishing line.?

In a few weeks,?more than 200,000 ?year 12 students will be sitting their final exams – and making important decisions about their lives beyond school.

Industry and business desperately need a constant supply of well-trained and motivated young people to help generate the prosperity our state and country deserves. This is critical, given Australia’s aging population.

The Challenges:

The world of work is changing rapidly.?

Reports by LinkedIn and leading consultancies regularly highlight the skills gaps that now exist - as the jobs in demand change.?

• In a recent article, LinkedIn argues that between 25-40% of skills people need at work will be different by 2025 – with data and digital skills increasing in importance.?
• Automation is changing the make-up of ‘traditional’ professions – the use of artificial intelligence is expanding, for example, in accountancy, medicine, law and surveying (to name a few.)

Unsurprisingly, the education system is struggling to keep up. There are too few students coming through with digital, IT, design, and data skills. Admittedly, I'm also anxious about the number of arts students dropping, but that's a conversation for another time.

We also think there’s a related problem that needs attention. We suspect it’s been an issue for a long time - given the number of reports that have been produced.

Many young people are overwhelmed by the choices they face after their final school exams.?

In a lot of cases, they are heavily influenced by the opinions of family or friends. The ‘professional’ support that is available to help make these crucial decisions is largely ‘hit and miss.’

• Career education isn’t compulsory in Australia’s schools.?
• The Australian Curriculum provides an allocation of time for teachers to develop school-based approaches to career education – encouraging local decisions based on local needs.

The result: young people get vastly different levels of support.

• Some schools have dedicated careers teachers.
• Some students may seek outside help through career counseling.
• Some students get no help at all.

And sadly, a survey for ‘The Conversation’ found that, of those respondents who recalled having career advice at school, almost half said it was of little use.?

Here’s what one student said in response to the survey:

‘There seemed to be a lack of support about careers at my school and the needs of employers. In fact, there was hardly any support at all. The school doesn’t help us to find a company that will teach us about the workplace, how it functions. They point us towards a large corporate company that holds some aspects of what we want to do and leave it at that.’

Girls, in particular, don’t get the support they need.

Recent research by 澳大利亚蒙纳士大学 , involving 1300 year 12 female students, revealed a confused picture:

• Young women have more choice than ever – they have high levels of educational achievement and, on the face of it, access to more career, education, and job opportunities.?
• However, in reality many young women feel anxious and uncertain about their options.?
• Almost half said they were stressed about the choices they faced.
• 26% said they often felt down or worried about selecting a career.
• One in five reported being overwhelmed by the amount of information available.
• 83% wanted to go to university – but there was a significant degree of uncertainty about what they would do when they had completed their studies.
• 40% were concerned they were never have a ‘real’ career – and that their studies weren’t helping them obtain a career.
• One third felt "unemployable".
• 34% said they were doing subjects or activities with no sense of purpose.

Moreover, where a respondent had a firm idea on their career choice, two thirds picked one of the top ten most popular occupations for females - and very few understood the actual availability of jobs in their chosen field.

And there was a recurring theme that came through in the research:

Young women feel their career choices were heavily influenced by others:

• Nearly half said they were choosing careers based on what others expected of them.
• Over half agreed they were choosing careers to please others – and they were worried that others would not approve of their career choices.

Overall, the research concluded that ‘it’s concerning that young women are confused, worried, uncertain and conflicted about such an important decision.’

Something needs to change - Some Solutions:

1. At the outset young people need better information about the world of work and the jobs market – and better support to explore their future career options.
2. Career education within schools needs to improve and be consistent.?
3. There are many excellent and dedicated teachers who can support students? – but they need the training, resources and time.
4. Young people need to be provided with opportunities which give them ‘firsthand’ experiences of the world of work.
5. Our messaging to young women, in particular, needs to change. It is not OK for us as parents, employers, or educators to impose images of success or appropriateness - to limit education and career paths choices to those they may not want.

And, finally, we need to learn from what the “best in class’s schools are doing.”

Here is what one head teacher said:

‘We try, where possible, to enable students to see and hear firsthand information about opportunities that are available to them as a career. Programmes at my school offer students in years nine, ten and eleven many opportunities to explore their pathways - through initiatives such as personal best, work experience, structured workplace learning, community service, careers camp, excursions to the careers expo, guest speakers, (year 12) university visit days, careers week and we have software such as careers tools and career voyage.’ (National Youth Commission of Australia website).

Young people need to know they are valued.?

We must find ways to provide them with better career advice - for both their own benefit and Australia’s future prosperity.? They need to have a better understanding of today’s job market and the current range of opportunities – and more support as they move to the next chapter of their lives.

Otherwise, we won’t get motivated young people into our companies – and then we all lose.