Michael Ouzas spent five years studying landscape architecture and has applied for more than fifty jobs since graduating last year.
He's been through seven interviews at different firms.
It’s proved a frustrating situation for the 23-year-old.
“Each time it seems like there was a problem with the experience factor and as a graduate it’s very hard to gain some or any experience in the field during your time studying.”
And it’s an experience that’s far from unique, according to a report by the Foundation for Young Australians.
Chief Executive Jan Owen says the figures are alarming.
“50 per cent of 25 year-olds in Australia are not in full time work despite having higher education standards than any previous generation.”
In 1980, just over half - 53 per cent - of 15 to 24-year-olds were in full-time work.
By 2015 that number had itself halved - to just 26 per cent.
By contrast, the number in full-time study has jumped to more than half over the past 30 years.
The Greens say it’s high time our politicians started to take the issue seriously, particularly given the alarming level of youth unemployment among disadvantaged groups.
That's as high as 50 per cent .... and it's a subject close to the heart of 23-year-old Greens senator Jordan Steele-John, who is in a wheelchair.
" I am, in a sense, sitting here as an employed young Australian disabled person as an aberration, not the norm and that needs to change.”
With the latest figures showing the overall jobless rate has fallen to 5.4 per cent and youth unemployment 11.6 per cent, Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has defended the Turnbull Government's record.
“We have focused on internships. Let’s work with business to give our young people the opportunity to get the foot in the door.”
Despite that door being slammed shut on him too often, Michael Ouzas is determinedly upbeat ...
"That immediate impact you get in the few days after the no is quite a downer but then you think, hey, you know who you are, you know where you want to go and if I don’t try I am not going to ever get it.”
