Mental health advocates say more focus is needed on teaching 21st century skills - like critical thinking and resilience - to better help students transition from education to employment.
After graduating from university, Monica Castillo applied for 25 jobs without success.
She had high grades but says a lack of industry experience left her trailing other candidates.
“Unfortunately I kept on getting rejections until I sort of went and did like an internship where I was able to do work experience related to my field,” she said.
She now has her dream job as a project manager at a public health institute in Sydney.
New research shows many other young people are facing similar struggles.
Mental health service ReachOut surveyed 1000 students and found only half of students felt ready for the workforce after graduating.
Many believed they didn’t get the right training and support... and nearly 30 per cent said they wanted courses to include more opportunities for work experience
ReachOut CEO Ashley De Silva explains.
“So one thing the report shows is that young people are actually really hopeful and optimistic about their future but they're equally scared of it and part of that is being driven by this feeling of not quite being prepared in a way that will make them future fit for the economy of the future and so that is one of the recommendations that we're making in the report and specifically around how do we help young people have what we're calling 21st century skills,” De Silva said.
And as year twelve school students across the country sit their final exams this week, Mr De Silva says schools, universities and TAFEs must help young people better prepare for a changing workforce.
That would include automation, globalisation and the rise of the gig-economy.
“We know the skills that will be in demand, we know some of the factors that are going to be challenging for young people and we're saying make sure that the education system is aligned to that.”
