The contemporary work environment for students
More students are being employed in the workforce than ever before. Students are also working longer hours compared to 20 years ago.
The work environment can be a challenging place for students given the pressures of the contempory environment. Students can face difficult situations depending on a variety of factors.
Students are a growing and increasingly important source of labour in Australia - Since 1983 the number students who work part-time has increased from 28% to 79% of all 15 - 19 year olds who were also studying full-time according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2004). This is important at a time when unemployment in Australia (below 5% in 2007) has led to a tightening of the labour market.
Many teachers report that their students are, in some cases, spending as many hours at work as they are at school, or close to it.
In 2005 the NSW Commission for Children and Young People released the Children at Work report which showed that children enjoy working, it is important to them and it contributes to their development in many ways. The report also showed some trends of concern:
- Children living in less advantaged areas were less likely to work than children living in more advantaged areas.
- High levels of harassment and injury were reported by the children surveyed.
To respond to the issues in the Report, the Commission convened a Task Force comprised of young people and representatives of employer organisations, community organisations, unions and government agencies. This Task Force has provided the Commission with advice on the action needed to extend the benefits children receive from work.
As a result of the advice received from the Task Force, the Commission is putting forward a set of recommendations designed to improve children's experience of work.
The recommendations cover ways of:
- Making work work for children
- Improving access to employment
- Making work safer for children
The recommendations can be read at
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/childwork_recs.pdf
The Report upon which the recommendations were based can be read at
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/ChildrenatworkreportFinal.pdf
The Commission for Children and Young People report that: "In the first Australian study of its kind, the Commission surveyed 11,000 high school students in years 7 to 10 about their experiences at work. The research shows there is considerable diversity to kids' work, from babysitting and working in retail outlets to making deliveries, teaching and helping out on the family farm."
The report found that "over half of children in the study worked and most of them enjoy working and its financial, social and personal benefits."
The report "also highlighted some serious concerns. For example, just under 10 per cent of kids said they'd been seriously injured. Just under half said they had been verbally harassed and about 20 per cent said they had been physically harassed at work."