Teenagers' time to shine during festive season
Jan 06, 2023
AUSTRALIA’s seven million working-age teenagers and high school leavers are being urged to take a paid hospitality job over summer, earning up to $4,700 for eight weeks work, to learn vital skills that will set themselves up for their careers.
Young people make up 14% of Australia’s total workforce1 but suffered 55% of all job losses during the extended COVID-19 lockdowns2, robbing them of much needed work experience.
As the nation’s $71.3 billion hospitality sector emerges for a bumper summer, 102,000 hospitality jobs are now available, which is double the size of the entire Australian Defence Force3.
“Many Year 12 students are currently enjoying a well-earned ‘schoolies’ celebration, but once that is finished they should rush to take a summer job and set themselves up for university,” Barcats Australia CEO Jeffrey Williams said.
“Teenagers can earn up to $4,700 for an average eight-week summer job, which will provide the financial buffer they need to concentrate on their university studies in 2023.
“The same goes for their younger brothers and sisters, as young as 13 years of age. It’s never too early to get your first job in hospitality, and learn amazing life skills that will set you up for a successful career.”
Teenage jobs teach independence and responsibility, provide a pathway to future employment opportunities and income security, instill financial literacy, encourage problem solving, create new relationships outside of school, inspire self-discovery, and create a sense of purpose.
Successful people who started their careers as teenagers in hospitality include former US President Barack Obama, billionaires Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, actors Hugh Jackman, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt and singers Lady Gaga, Pink and Harry Styles.
“With school almost out for the year, and future uni students facing soaring HECS debt, now is the time for Australia’s seven million working-age teenagers to get a paying job over summer,” Mr Williams said.
“Periods of inactivity and unemployment in early adulthood, have been shown to have lasting negative effects on future employment prospects and we know young people worked in those industries, such as hospitality and retail, that were hit hardest by the pandemic.
“We want our kids to get their confidence back, learn some news skills, and put some money in the bank while they’re at it.”
Teenagers are legally entitled to work as young as 13-years-of-age in some Australian states.
Government-funded, industry grade training is available to students to gain hospitality jobs, through the Teens Only U18s platform4.
“These training courses are a good way to learn how to deal with people, because during those COVID times we didn’t really communicate,“ Lily McEwen Gillespie, from Kingswood High School in Sydney, said.
“I definitely see myself getting a career in hospitality in the future.”
VNR: A VNR is available for television networks, featuring overlay and interviews with Sydney high school students who have recently taken part in the Barcats Job Ready and Employment Program.
CASE STUDIES: Teenage case studies are available for photo opportunities and interviews. Table 1: Estimated employment opportunities for teenagers in Australia.
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Juniors are also privy to additional loading and award rates, depending on whether they’re in hospitality or award loading5.
Table 2: Top 5 benefits of a summer job.
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4 https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/free-hospitality-courses-to-kickstart-careers
5Junior pay rates - Fair Work Ombudsman
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Table 3: Successful people who worked as teenagers.
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6 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/06/what-11-successful-people-were-doing-as-teenagers/
7 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/06/what-11-successful-people-were-doing-as-teenagers/
8 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/06/what-11-successful-people-were-doing-as-teenagers/
9 https://www.buzzfeed.com/katherinepickhardt/celebrities-who-worked-fast-food
10 https://www.fastcompany.com/90368302/hugh-jackman-was-fired-from-his-job-at-a-7-eleven
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About Barcats
Barcats is a digital platform, which launched in June 2017, and connects the hospitality community across New Zealand and Australia. With a focus on building a stronger engaged community Barcats instantly connects venues looking to hire with quality staff in their area looking to work.
Barcats is one of the fastest growing hospitality networks across New Zealand and Australia and is well positioned to continue supporting and connecting the hospitality community, one job at a time.
With more than 100,000 members of staff and close to 30,000 venues hooked up to the platform, Barcats is uniquely positioned to provide industry insights.
Find out more: www.barcats.com.au
Facebook: Barcats.com.au
Instagram: @barcats_community
