Generation Y describe first job as a tough gig

POOR pay, doing menial tasks and long hours topped the list of complaints in a poll of Generation Y about their first job.

POOR pay, doing menial tasks and long hours topped the list of complaints by Generation Y about their first job.

More than half of the more than 1200 workers questioned in a Galaxy poll felt exploited in their first full-time role.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Generation Success summit with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and major business leaders — a program that aims to shine a light on youth unemployment — the poll also found that more than one-in-five workers say their first job was the worst.

Only 18 per cent of respondents identified their first job as their best.

Older workers are more positive about their first job than Gen X and Gen Y with 23 per cent of Baby Boomers staying in their first role for more than a decade.

But the majority of Australians work in their first full-time job for less than three years.

Demographer Bernard Salt said being able to reinvent yourself will be a key ingredient to success in the 21st century workforce.

Gen Y are perfectly positioned to take advantages of the changes as they are skilled at building new relationships, he said.

“Nothing is forever in the workplace. Jobs for life are a 20th century concept. Things are constantly changing in terms of technology and working practice and being able to repackage yourself for new roles will be key,” Mr Salt said.

Stronger links between educational institutions were identified by the nation’s business leader as a key to pushing down youth unemployment.

Despite last week’s fall in unemployment below 6 per cent for the first time this year, the jobless rate among young people increased to 12.4 per cent in January, with some regional areas registering levels of almost 20 per cent.

Telstra boss David Thodey, however, is optimistic next week’s summit is a chance for governments, businesses and young workers to come together and try to find solutions.

He said the economic transition taking place as menial blue-collar jobs are being replaced by automation will bring both heartache and opportunity in equal

News Corp Australia, publishers of the Herald Sun, and Woolworths Limited have joined forces to launch Generation Success, an initiative to focus on youth employment. Gen S brings together some of the country’s biggest employers including Leighton Holdings, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Toll Group, Spotless and Telstra. As part of the initiative, business and government leaders will come together on April 16 for a youth employment roundtable discussion.

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