The youth job market in Australia is undergoing rapid change. With more young Australians seeking meaningful careers and industries adapting to skill shortages, 2025 presents new opportunities across the workforce. From retail and administration to healthcare and NDIS jobs, youth employment is on the rise but challenges remain.
At TalentHub, we specialise in connecting young job seekers to inclusive, purpose-driven roles particularly in disability support, aged care and healthcare sectors. This article breaks down the latest research on youth employment in Australia, offering insights for both employers and job seekers.
Youth Employment in Australia Is Growing
According to Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), 58% of employers received applications from candidates aged 15–24 in the last year and 82% of those hired at least one young worker. These numbers highlight a strong interest from young Australians to enter the workforce and employers’ growing confidence in hiring early-career talent.
Despite this, Australia’s youth unemployment rate remains above average at around 9%, showing that many young people still face barriers to employment, including lack of experience, industry knowledge or career guidance.
What Industries Are Hiring Young Australians?
Young job seekers are finding employment in diverse fields, including:
- Retail, hospitality and food services
- Business administration and customer service
- Community services and personal care
- Healthcare, aged care and NDIS-related roles
Among these, healthcare and disability support roles offer long-term opportunities. With strong government investment, high demand and meaningful day-to-day responsibilities, roles such as support workers, home care assistants and mental health aides attract many job seekers starting their careers.
These jobs often allow for entry without formal qualifications, making them ideal for school leavers or students ready to gain experience while making a difference.
What Employers Want From Young Workers
The JSA research shows that attitude and soft skills now outweigh qualifications in many hiring decisions.
Key traits employers value in youth include:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Reliability and punctuality
- Willingness to learn and adapt
- Motivation and team collaboration
Notably, 76% of employers hired young staff without using government subsidies, confirming that businesses increasingly recognise the potential and long-term value of young employees.
In high-touch industries like NDIS and healthcare, these soft skills are especially important. The ability to build trust, listen actively and remain calm under pressure is often more impactful than a certificate alone.
How Employers Are Recruiting Young Talent
Recruitment strategies are becoming more flexible and youth-friendly. Employers now use:
- Online job boards like TalentHub, Seek
- Social media and community job listings
- Referrals from existing staff or training providers
- Direct applications from young candidates
Work trials remain limited across most industries, but they are more common in care, hospitality and support roles where employers assess hands-on capability and communication skills.
Challenges Facing Young Job Seekers
While job opportunities are growing, workplace experiences for young people vary. A 2024 Year13 survey found that 1 in 8 young women left their jobs due to abuse or unsafe environments. Emotional burnout, poor supervision and customer conflict are major reasons youth leave early-stage roles.
These challenges are particularly relevant in frontline sectors like healthcare, retail and disability support, where pressure can be high and protections may be limited.
For employers, the solution lies in creating inclusive, supportive workplaces, providing training and leadership that considers the wellbeing of young staff especially those in their first job.
Why Healthcare and NDIS Jobs Are Ideal for Young Australians
Australia’s healthcare and disability sectors continue to grow due to increased demand for aged care, mental health support and NDIS services. For young workers, these roles offer:
- Flexible entry points with or without qualifications
- The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives
- Nationally recognised pathways for career development
- Consistent demand across metro and regional areas
As NDIS providers and care services look to expand, there is strong need for reliable, motivated young professionals. With the right support, these roles can lead to permanent employment and long-term careers in nursing, allied health or social work.
How TalentHub Helps Young Australians Find the Right Job
At TalentHub, we support young job seekers across industries, with a strong focus on NDIS jobs, healthcare careers and community service roles.
- We work with employers who offer mentorship, fair hours and real growth opportunities.
- Whether it is a part-time start or long-term goal, we support movement into roles like support coordination, nursing or case management.
What’s Next for Youth Employment in Australia?
With global youth unemployment at a 15-year low and demand rising across healthcare, aged care and essential services, the time is right for young Australians to explore a wide range of job opportunities.
The challenge and opportunity for employers is to recruit, train and retain young talent with clear career development, supportive environments and values-aligned work.
Final Thoughts
Youth employment in Australia is more than a statistic it is a chance to build the workforce of the future. With the right mix of attitude, access and industry support, young Australians can thrive in sectors that matter.
At TalentHub, we are proud to champion this transition connecting today’s job seekers with tomorrow’s essential roles.
Reference:
https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/recruitment-experiences-and-outlook-survey