NSW school leavers choosing gap years over uni, training and jobs

A new study says that for the second year running, students are less likely to go into a job, training or higher education after leaving school. Have your say here.

More young people are falling through the cracks once they leave school, neither getting a full time job or furthering their studies or even looking for work.

According to a new report, for the second consecutive year school leavers are less likely to go into a job, training or higher education after they have done the HSC or if they leave before their exams in Year 12.

The proportion of graduates in their first year out of school holding down jobs or upskilling through bodies like TAFE has fallen from 89.6 per cent in 2018 to 86 per cent in 2020.

Students are these days less likely to find a job after the HSC exams. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The education department blames the coronavirus-­fuelled recession for school leavers getting lost from the labour force but business ­leaders are blaming the school system for being out of touch with the current jobs market.

“Covid-19 had a considerable impact on school leavers in 2020,” an education department spokeswoman said.

“A lower proportion of Year 12 completers entered a bachelor degree in 2020 compared to 2019, with a significantly higher proportion of Year 12 completers entering part time work, looking for work or reporting not being in the labour force, education or training.”

But the department conceded more needed to be done to improve the quality and ­accessibility of vocational education in high schools and ­ensure students’ education better prepares them for a career.

The government has its sights on making students more job-ready, which is why from next year virtual VET courses will be delivered in high schools by TAFE NSW as part of the HSC and 24 schools are currently involved in a pilot where specialist careers counsellors collaborating with local industry and employers to create training opportunities for students.

From next year the NSW government’s new performance targets for public schools will keep closer track of “post-school outcomes” while providing more information back to schools on their students’ employment and higher education outcomes.

More than half of business leaders believe the education system needs to better equip young people with the skills, knowledge and capabilities they need for work, according to Business NSW survey.

“Businesses tell us that poor preparation for the workforce could be addressed by providing young people with more work experience, more development of soft skills and more training to help young people understand what employers expect,” Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said.