December is upon us and with it comes many beginnings and endings.
For our newest school leavers, this is the end of school, but a beginning in the workforce, or university, or travel.
At least that is what I hope you are looking forward to.
Being a school leaver now means you have many different pathways to follow and have been encouraged to do so during your final school years.
In the past few decades, working life has changed.
No longer is there a job for life, it is a job for right now.
It may be a career path, it may be a stepping stone to somewhere else.
You may go into further study, you may change your field of study, you may stop altogether to do something completely different.
My main wish for you, the school leaver, is that you have somewhere to go to, something to do, that you don’t stop striving and decide to rely on social support.
Our next generation of workers, leaders, employers, educators, explorers, thinkers, and creatives are here.
What should they expect?
Can they walk straight into a job, a traineeship, an apprenticeship?
Maybe, the vocational pathways that the schools provide now give a student a stepping point into a potential career interest.
Maybe not.
Are businesses able to provide a junior or trainee role?
Workers are staying longer in their jobs as the retirement age is pushed further back, this means that there is less room for new employees.
Has the cost of operating a business meant that no new positions are being opened.
What about our university graduates?
They have just completed three or more years of further study and are eagerly looking to share their newly acquired knowledge.
Will they find work in Logan, in Queensland, other states, or head off overseas?
Are we sufficiently re-activated after nearly two years of stagnation and isolation?
The RBA has noted that there is a strong domestic demand for goods and services but as this is combined with weak productivity growth, increased labour, energy, business rents, and insurance costs, the general price of providing these goods and services have also increased.
Not necessarily increasing any profits for a business owner, many will still be only just breaking even, or even running at a loss.
This Christmas will be tough for many families.
There may be another rate rise from the RBA.
It’s Christmas and many workplaces have a shutdown period.
Culturally, there is an expectation to make merry, to indulge, but also to be generous.
This year, community generosity will be most needed.
Why not join us at our annual Christmas Toy Drive Breakfast at IKEA.
All toys are donated to the Logan Emergency Services Christmas Day Toy Run.
Wednesday 6th December, 7am. IKEA Slacks Creek – bring an unwrapped toy (or more) to share for a variety of ages.
Make your booking here: (QR Code).
