Labour Market

Tony Abbott’s claim this week that only the “right kids” should be encouraged to stay in school misunderstands the jobs market, the needs of business and is not in the best interests of our kids.

As a youth Tony always enjoyed working with his hands. Photo: Ray Strange

It‘s true that not all young people want or need to go to university and they shouldn’t have to. But gone are the days when young people could finish Year 10 and walk into a job or a trade without qualifications.

Our economy has changed and employers increasingly desire higher levels of education and deeper levels of understanding. Think about the skills required by today’s mechanics, electricians and plumbers. Technical, computer and environmental changes mean these sorts of trades have become more complex and require a higher level of vocational skills.

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  • Cath says:

    06:26pm | 03/12/11

    Tony Abbott the elitist http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=tony+abbott+putting+out+the+rubbish.&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-ContextMenu&rlz=1I7SUNC_enAU386&biw=1366&bih=530&tbm=isch&tbnid=dLizuar4tg_a9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/six-votes-that-will-decide-if-labor-or-the-coaltion-can-govern/story-fn5ko0pw-1225908603612&docid=8Hxc84IPSgxljM&imgurl=http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2010/08/23/1225908/859411-tony-abbott.jpg&w=650&h=366&ei=nNzZTsCnO-yaiQfYsMnxDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=197&vpy=170&dur=2325&hovh=168&hovw=299&tx=154&ty=89&sig=101017243374696646959&page=1&tbnh=154&tbnw=257&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0 Read more »

  • Tom says:

    08:28am | 02/12/11

    @The righteous one, VVS, palone. Bigoted and puerile, you are a simple trio. Read more »

 

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