As the countdown to the new school year begins, students are packing their backpacks and have begun contemplating their future paths while considering what future academic and career options lie ahead.
In its latest initiative, YouthInsight conducted a survey among a nationally representative population sample aged 14 to 25, encompassing high school, university, TAFE, VET and private college students across Australia.
The results demonstrated how students are considering future academic and career paths beyond traditional academic pursuits.
What students are looking towards after secondary-school.
Post secondary school, 74 per cent of high school students expressed their intentions to pursue tertiary education. The remaining 26 per cent cited reasons such as not being sure of a career path, wanting to take a gap year, wanting to earn income, completing VET studies and taking a break from further study, as reasons why they wouldn’t pursue higher education after secondary education.
When it comes to future careers and professional development, 1 in 4 young people are turning to Student Edge for online information and advice on their future careers. Student Edge ranked higher than government websites and online forums for 26 per cent of survey respondents.
However social media continued to be a vital resource with 43 per cent having engaged with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook when searching for information and advice.
In terms of job search, 59 per cent of young people turned to Seek when it came to looking for a job. While 49 per cent of people use Indeed, 40 per cent would go directly to the company/organisation, 26 per cent use LinkedIn and 24 per cent turned to Student Edge.
The enthusiasm for upskilling among young people is evident as 7 in 10 young people expressed interest in attending Student Edge webinars and focusing on topics like budgeting, study tips and entrepreneurship.
The industries young people are most and least interested in.
In terms of potential industry pathways, health, medicine and technology emerged as the top choices for young people in 2023. Healthcare and medicine attracted 26 per cent, technology came in second at 19 per cent and engineering at 13 per cent.
Creative arts and education also garnered interest with 10 per cent expressing a desire to work in these fields.
Industries including mining, oil and gas were viewed as least important overall by Gen Z. Although, 68% of young people surveyed agreed that mining is important to the future of the Australian economy and 58% said the same for oil, however only a combined total of 1.4% want to work in these industries.
Additionally, 89% of young people surveyed agreed that clean/renewable energy is important to the future of the Australian economy, however only 2% want to work in this industry.
Those who were interested in this industry said it was because they wanted to be part of initiatives that worked to mitigate negative environmental outcomes. One respondent said, “I think it is an important industry that the world needs to focus on for the future, and it is related to my interests.”
Respondents who were interested in working within these industries, said it was due to the possibility of high-income opportunities and career progression. One of the respondents said they wanted to pursue a career in this industry “because…[it] can guarantee a lot of money if you are in a good role.”
How are students choosing their future career paths?
Students were also primarily influenced by the people around them when it came to making decisions about their future. Conversations with their parents, guardians or carers influenced 29 per cent of respondents’ career choices, while 21 per cent credited career days at schools for helping them make a decision.
These results shed light on how today’s youth are confident in terms of their education and making decisions about their future career. What is evident is Gen Z’s excitement to try out different paths and dive into ongoing learning.
Read the full report here. For more information about YouthInsight get in touch at support@youthinsight.com.au
About Youth Insight.
YouthInsight is Australia’s premier youth-focused research agency and the full-service market research arm of Student Edge, founded in 2003 by a group of students. YouthInsight taps into the country’s largest online youth panel (150,000+ young people) and offers a wide range of research solutions, as well as consultancy and public presentation services.
