Youth jobs fair planned to combat shocking unemployment

TOOWOOMBA Chamber of Commerce is putting together a youth jobs fair for later this year, in the wake of shocking youth unemployment figures.

Toowoomba’s youth unemployment rate is the worst in the state.

TOOWOOMBA Chamber of Commerce is putting together a youth jobs fair for later this year, in the wake of shocking youth unemployment figures.

The work comes off the back of a recent Jobs Taskforce Roundtable.

The roundtable was formed following recent reports indicating that youth unemployment in Toowoomba has doubled in the course of the year and which suggested the region's overall unemployment rate as being the worst in Australia.

Established to analyse and evaluate the unemployment figures and discuss practical actions to address the issue, a second roundtable discussion was held last week.

Jobs Taskforce advisor Professor Khorshed Alam of the University of Southern Queensland reaffirmed the need to take a cautious approach to overall unemployment figures, which have been fluctuating between 6.2% and 12.2% in recent months.

"Youth unemployment continues to be a significant issue with the latest figures indicating, it is the worst in the state," he said.

"I look forward to working with the taskforce to advocate for programs that will support reducing youth unemployment."

Toowoomba Chamber CEO Todd Rohl said the taskforce discussed barriers to employment for youth from transport, training opportunities, to limited work history, language and literacy, engagement, mental health associated with the challenges of COVID-19 and support and incentives for employers.

"Now we better understand some of the barriers, we will advocate for interventions like bringing back the State Government Back to Work Program to provide increased employment pathways for young people and opportunities for employers," he said.

"The chamber will work towards implementing a Jobs Taskforce action of creating a Youth Jobs Fair, later this year.

 

 

"We hope, if we can pull this off, we can better understand the youth and employer employment experience, connect businesses with youth and provide support for Toowoomba's future leaders and business."

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