Today the JobKeeper subsidy rolls back by $100 before it is scheduled to conclude in March.

With Australia not yet in the clear from COVID-19, the repercussions of such a move may have adverse effects for youth that are entering the job force, and workers in industries that are already impacted by the coronavirus. An Australian government-supported study run by the Grattan Institute finds that today’s youth will be the first generation to be worse off than their parents in over 100 years. This has been largely due to the booming property market and tax policies that favour the established older generation.

At a crossroad of economic crisis and a global health pandemic, re-education and upskilling could be a foothold during increasingly difficult times and flailing industries.

Since March 2020, Australia has undergone a series of lockdowns in each state and territory, yet vital work such as air conditioning and refrigeration work has remained a constant need amongst essential services. In response to the worrying outlook for a post-COVID economy, the government has overhauled university fees to increase costs for those that enrol into arts and humanities courses. By contrast, the government is investing monetary assistance for apprenticeship and traineeship programs to support those that wish to enter into trade-based skills as part of their job-maker scheme.

Find out more here.