Young Australians studying more, wondering why

Young Australians are studying more and believing in education less. The estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research finds that 50 per cent of 23 year olds believe they have the wrong education and/or training. Despite this 30 per cent of them were studying last year, up from 24 per cent in 2007.

The figures come from an NCVER analysis of Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) data.

The study shows that education qualifications of 23 year olds have risen dramatically in a decade. In 2007 some 40 percent had a diploma or higher, compared to 46 per cent last year. But in a strong signal of coming criticism of education providers over placement programmes, 75 per cent of them last year believed their job chances were harmed by insufficient experience, well up on 56 per cent in 2007. Many more young people are also working in the gig economy, with a 10 per cent increase, to 32 per cent, in part time work – although whether this is a cause or effect of the growth in the number studying is not shown.

In a stark sign that tens of thousands of Australians will have limited lifetime earning-opportunities some 30 per cent of 23 year olds last year had not completed a post-school qualification, effectively unchanged from 33 per cent in 2017.


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