My research lately has focussed on the future of work. In particular, I've been interested in what's known as the graduate outlook: what employers expect of university graduates and how university graduates have fared in terms of work. I've looked more broadly than this, into expectations of how work generally is expected to change, and I've looked more narrowly too, at the future of lawyers' work.
It is clear that work is changing for nearly everyone. For example, it is anticipated that we will increasingly see widespread reskilling, or 'upskilling', as industries transform in the face of new technologies. Our entire workforce then will need to be adaptable: capable of retraining to suit rapidly changing workplaces, and rapidly changing work.
Against this background, we offer further and higher education that locks young people into long term learning—over years. While students are learning, they are competing with each other for placements and internships, frequently unpaid, to give themselves an edge, or an (unproven) entree into full time work. This 'try before you buy' system for industry has effectively been endorsed by the Federal government. It is seen as a necessary step into the workforce. To the extent that it puts all the onus on the worker to prove themselves —to an unknown standard, and without pay—I challenge this assumption. I challenge it especially to the extent that it absolves employers of responsibilities towards employees, especially when they are young people.
I spend a lot of time with young people, around Australia. Uni students—and I am especially familiar with law students—are constantly applying for internships or work experience, and for volunteer positions in community organisations. Frequently, having invited applications, the firm or organisation will not even acknowledge receipt.
I see young people on low wages, required to show up to work at any time on pain of dismissal. I see poor students unable to take unpaid internships, wondering how they can compete against more affluent students who can.
Recently on a ride to the airport my Uber driver, Genet, told me that her son had qualified in construction. Over four years he applied for jobs. Every time he was shortlisted, he was given a day's work, unpaid, then not kept on. He continued to apply, she said, out of love for her.
He felt he would let her down if he gave up. Eventually, she said, the toll on him was too great. She told him that he