WYNDHAM has the highest rate of youth unemployment in metropolitan Melbourne, new federal government figures reveal.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations labour force statistics show youth unemployment in the outer western suburbs, which include Wyndham and Melton, hit 14.5 per cent in the 12 months to June.
The region had the second-highest youth unemployment rate in the state. The central highlands district, including Horsham, recorded a jobless rate of 15.4 per cent.
Wise Employment’s Werribee business manager Peter Gallagher said he had noticed an increase in young people looking for work in recent months.
He said this demographic often missed out on job opportunities because it lacked transport to get to and from work. Many young people also lacked qualifications.
“When many young people come to us looking for work, they also lack the necessary skills that are required in their area of choice for employment.”
Werribee-based youth employment agency Create has also noticed an increase in young people looking for work. Manager Katie Mair said scores of young people previously placed in jobs had returned to seek help after being made redundant during the last quarter of 2011.
“We’ve seen kids who were placed in jobs three years ago coming back to our offices because their jobs have been taken away.
“Kids we’ve linked up with jobs in industries like manufacturing, transport logistics, mechanics and hairdressing have now been cut off.”
Lauren Fisher is just one of the many young people living in Wyndham who has struggled to find a job. After finishing school, Ms Fisher, 19, started working at a real estate office while studying for a certificate II in beauty.
She was made redundant shortly after and found it difficult to find another job.
Ms Fisher said she became unsure about her ability to secure a job on her own.
‘‘I guess it was because I didn’t have enough experience for a lot of jobs,’’ she said. ‘‘I also had trouble trying to find a junior role locally. There’s not enough of them in Wyndham.’’
After failing to find work, Ms Fisher approached Wise Employment’s Werribee office for help.
‘‘I went to a few appointments with them and they asked me what sort of jobs I was interested in and set up interviews for me.
‘‘Then they put me forward for my current job and I got it. It took me a few months to find work, but it would have taken longer on my own.’’
Ms Fisher works as a receptionist at a Sunshine removalist firm. She said the job was ideal because it allowed her to earn money while finishing her studies.
