As part of Year13’s online-learning platform Academy, the new short course called DigiSkills will equip Gen Z with the know-how needed to navigate a digital technology career path in jobs like cyber security, product management, software engineering, and data analysis.
Year13 and DSO researched and surveyed 404 young Australians aged 15 to 24. They found that 8% want to work in the digital sector, 19% are likely to, 32% are neutral, 34% are unlikely and 7% say definitely not.
A gender breakdown found 10% of males definitely want to work in the digital industry while 27% are likely to, compared to 7% of females who definitely want to work in the digital industry and 15% who said they are likely to.
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When asked what barriers they had to encounter in the digital industry, 49% of Gen Zs said they were not sure where to start. Forty-five percent said they never taught about digital careers in school while 36% said they were leaning to a creative career and are unsure while 12% said they lack talent.
“As the demand for people with digital skills continues to grow, there is a pressing need to open up pathways for entry level digital talent for a broad range of school leavers. By normalising digital, digital skills pathways and shedding a light on what digital careers look like through DigiSkills Academy, we have a huge opportunity to empower young Australians to be the change makers of our future,” says DSO CEO Patrick Kidd.
“With unclear pathways, poorly informed educational guidance, or the belief that a ‘geeky’ disposition is essential for a successful career in digital, young Australians are often quick to dismiss a career in this in-demand industry before knowing what it actually entails,” notes Year13 co-founder and CEO Will Stubley.