Despite a total of 52 per cent of Western Sydney residents living and working locally, there are fears from all major age groups around a lack of employment opportunities.

NewsLocal and Lendlease have commissioned an exclusive YouGov poll to ask the local workforce of Western Sydney what the community needs to help establish a thriving, dynamic employment future.

When it comes to Millennials, there are major concerns around a lack of highly skilled jobs with 38 per cent of all respondents highlighting the issue as the most significant employment issue in Western Sydney.

Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University Associate Professor George Morgan said the dramatic increase in students enrolling for higher education placed further stress on a small knowledge-based employment industry.

“Universities have a lot to answer for here,” Professor Morgan said. “We are sending more and more people to higher education, but the sad reality is, some of those people will never work in the industry they studied in and others will feel their skills are under-utilised.”

Professor Morgan, who just completed research on youth employment, said Western Sydney remains a low skilled style economy.

“There are huge proportions of the Western Sydney workforce that are in hospitality and the low level admin industry, and there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.

“But we were promised a booming knowledge-based workforce and economy and we aren’t seeing an increase in employment opportunities for these industries.”

Professor Morgan argued universities should be forced to calibrate the intake of students to match demand for employment.

“There was political promises about a shift from the manual labour employment economy to knowledge-based, but that proposal has not become a reality,” he said.

Generation X have revealed they are concerned about the lack of jobs for women returning to the workforce — with 35 per cent raising the issue — and most Baby Boomers are concern about a lack of employment opportunities for older workers who have been retrenched.

A Lendlease spokeswoman said the developer has worked to establish a Skilling and Employment Centre in the heart of western Sydney, which has helped 5229 people find work.

“The Skilling and Employment Centre operates a broker model, linking job seekers, employers and training providers to achieve successful employment and training outcomes,” the spokeswoman said.

“The support includes access to computers and job search sites, assistance with resume preparation and the application process, free jobseeker programs such as career advice, interview skills and OH&S certificates.”

A total of 37 per cent of all participants in the Skilling and Employment centre program have moved into the construction and trade industry, while 64 per cent of all employees work within a 10km radius of home.

FIRM BORN FROM MOTHERHOOD

CREATING her own businesses was a way Natalie Green could ensure she had a job to return to after having her children.

The 45-year-old mother and business woman has been running her own public relations and content firm from her Bella Vista home for several years.

“I have been managing Colourful Words since 2014, which coincided with the birth of my first child,” Mrs Green said.

“I created a business where I could work from home and care for him at the same time and this is a decision that I have considered in all of my business ventures.”

Mrs Green said starting her own business to “avoid the hassle of finding a job after having a child”.

“I wanted job security and the freedom to look after my children,” she said. “I think there are issues for mothers returning to the workforce.

“Job sharing looks like a great option, but it isn't an easy task — I am really glad I chose to start up my own businesses so I didn’t have to face this uncertainty.”

Four months ago, Mrs Green and her friend Sarah Johnston launched hillsdistrictfood.com.au, a blog dedicated to eating out across The Hills.

“I didn’t believe there were many options for people to eat out here in The Hills,” she said.

“But after we started researching, we realised there were so many places to choose from.

“Our focus is celebrate the great dine out options in the Hills.”

HIP HOP PART OF CASE WORKER’S APPROACH

HE STARTED off attending courses at Street University in Mt Druitt when he was a child, but now Ian Escandor helps manage the facility and change young people’s lives in the process.

”Esky”, as he is known in the hip-hop community and at Street University, is a local social worker who has dedicated his lives to helping young people achieve their goals.

“I manage the art-based workshops at Street University, including the music and dance programs,” Mr Escandor said. “As well as counselling of young people with addiction and substance abuse.”

The 26-year-old Hassall Grove resident started off regularly volunteering at the community facility six years ago and has since become assistant manager.

“While I was volunteering, I was studying social work at university, so the role was perfect for me,” he said.

“As a young person I had aspiration of becoming a musician, but when I started volunteering and running workshops I knew this could be a career.”

Mr Escandor said his passion to be a rapper give his credit with young people he helps through social issues.

“As a social worker I can work anywhere, but I choose to help my own community,” he said.

“Growing up, hip hop and western Sydney was a major part of my life, so I wouldn’t work anywhere else.

“Studying social work at university can be clinical, but the job I do in Mt Druitt has allowed me to break boundaries and use different means to support young people.”

LIFE EASIER WITH A CARING BOSS

BROOKE Archibald feared there wouldn’t be a place for her in the fitness industry when she went on maternity leave — a scenario many other western Sydney mothers face.

But the relationship she holds with her employers meant there was always a place for her to comeback to.

The Oran Park resident, 32, who has a baby and another on the way, has worked as a fitness instructor for the past 10 years.

“I love that I get the opportunity to help people reach their goals each and everyday,” Ms Archibald said.

“I interact with so many people on a daily basis, which is something I am really passionate about.”

Ms Archibald, now the centre manager of One55 Fitness Centre at Rooty Hill, said her boss’s understanding that she had a young family was ”a lifesaver”.

“I hear about a lot of young mothers losing their jobs when they have children,” she said. “I was concerned coming back after having a baby, but it is all about who you work for and the relationship you have with your employer.”

Ms Archibald said she was convinced there was a worker shortage in western Sydney, due to the number of unanswered job applications. “We struggle to find people in the local area to fill positions,” she said.

“There are so many job opportunities in the west, you just have to search for them.”

SUPPORTING YOUNG FAMILIES

WESTERN Sydney has always been apart of him — so when Andrew Sant and his father Paul set up a law firm at it’s heart, they knew they had made the right move.

The 28-year-old solicitor from Lidcombe has been a practising lawyer for more than 4 years, following in the footstep of his father.

“I completed my studies at the Western Sydney University at the Parramatta campus, went on to acquire a Diploma in Legal Practice and I started practising at the end of 2014,” Mr Sant said. “I then joined my family’s firm, Longton Legal, in Parramatta in 2017, in order to service the clients of Western Sydney.”

Mr Sant said because he grew up in Western Sydney, he feels he is able to breakdown barriers of people within the community.

“Although there are an abundance of lawyers across Sydney, I wanted to provide an accessible service within the Western Sydney community,” he said.

“I strive to build a face-to-face relationship with my clients.”

Mr Sant said his firm supports young families purchasing their first home in Westner Sydney.

So it is suitable that we are a part of the community that they are buying into,” he said.

“There are people from a range of socio-economic situations, it isn’t a one size fits all.”