The best part-time, gap year or first jobs for school leavers in 2021

Many traditional industries in which young people get work may not have the job vacancies this year for them to be hired. Here are the best alternatives.

SCHOOL leavers who are contemplating part-time jobs, gap years or a foot in the door to their chosen career industry are urged to look beyond the traditional retail, entertainment and travel industries to find work.

SM Solvency Accountants partner Brendan Nixon is expecting “a tsunami” of small businesses to shut up shop in early 2021, and in particular when JobKeeper is expected to cease in March, as a temporary amnesty granted to them by the Federal Government expires on December 31.

Many of them will be in the industries in which young people work to support their studies, leaving them out of a job.

But Nixon says there have been some businesses that have flourished despite the pandemic and expects will continue to do so next year, so will make good employers of young people.

He has revealed five areas that school leavers should consider in 2021.

School leaver Grace Granger, 17, is interested in becoming a personal trainer.

PERSONAL TRAINING

A qualification is required to work as a personal trainer but can be completed in between six and 12 months, providing employment opportunities while students study at university or a foot in the door to the fitness industry.

While gyms may have been affected by lockdowns this year, being self-employed or working for a mobile franchise enables personal trainers to work outside.

“2020 has highlighted the need to live a healthy life a be resilient, both physically and mentally,” Nixon says.

“Australia’s growing obsession with personal fitness has been given a jump start due to the pandemic, especially as we enter summer.”

Grace Granger, 17, studied her HSC this year at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney, is contemplating becoming a personal trainer as it is complementary to her university study.

“It is something I’m interested in as I am considering many health-related careers, including medicine, and physiotherapy,” she says.

CAMPING AND OFF-ROAD CAR ACCESSORY SUPPLIERS

These industries will boom, as families looking for cheaper holiday options and travellers want to avoid crowds.

“Many people are embracing back-to-basics living, which means the popularity of camping as a family holiday is likely to boom,” he says.

Jobseekers can get work at retail outlets or as labourers at installation workshops.

Pet groomers are getting employed before they finish their qualifications.

PET GROOMING AND ACCESSORIES

“During COVID we learned how to embrace simple pleasures close to home, like our family pet,” Nixon says.

“A desire for companionship has already seen more people wanting a pet, or pampering the pet they already own.”

Pet groomers are in such demand that they are being employed before they finish the qualification, while shorter courses to get a foot in the door take as little as 20 days to complete.

SHED INSTALLERS

With the rise in backyard renovations as people are at home more often, comes an increase in demand for sheds to be built for storage, but not just for garden tools.

Nixon says many Australians have already sought extra permanent storage for their hoarded toilet rolls and a stockpile of non-perishable food and drink.

“People are already stocking up on lockdown items in case there is another global pandemic,” Nixon says.

Entry-level roles, such as installing garden sheds rather than garages, often do not require qualifications.

Originally published as The best part-time, gap year or first jobs for school leavers in 2021