Employment Solutions

According to a recent article in The Courier Mail April 9 2010, TEENAGE job-seeker Lachlan Pearen knows exactly why he wants full-time work. If he could just get a foot in the door of a worsening job market for 15 to 19-year-olds, that would "help pay the bills and get my life on track".

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But so far there have been more setbacks than successes for the 18-year-old, who quit school in Year 10 when his father got sick and he felt the need to help support the family.

His first job with a landscaping business ended when the work ran out. A baker's apprenticeship was also cut short by the economic downturn.

"They told me it was because of the recession," Mr Pearen said.

He had to leave a subsequent bakery job last year to care for his father, and since his dad died five months ago he has not been able to find another full-time position.

Although the general jobless rate is now steady at 5.3 per cent, the economic recovery has not helped the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 19. It continued to climb this year - from 15.7 per cent in January to 16.8 per cent in March.

Mr Pearen said those were disheartening figures for young job-seekers.

"I'm a bit disappointed by how companies won't give young people a chance," he said.

"They want people to have experience, but how are you meant to get experience if you don't get a shot?"

But Mr Pearen has not given up. With the help of Mission Australia he has studied warehouse logistics, and he is about to get his forklift licence.

He hopes to get a job in a warehouse or a construction industry apprenticeship as his first step on the career ladder.

"I've got the work ethic," he said. "I know once I get a job I'm going to buckle down and work hard."