Sharing the latest instalment of our bite-sized reports on how Tasmania and Tasmanian businesses are responding to today’s most pressing issues. Sharing the latest instalment of our bite-sized reports on how Tasmania and Tasmanian businesses are responding to today’s most pressing issues.

The Project Lab has recently been recognised as a 2024 Employer of Choice for Tasmanians. Today, we’re looking at how Tasmanians are navigating today’s challenges around education, jobs, and recruitment.

The Facts:

• Recent reports on population growth, education outcomes, and employment have placed increased scrutiny on Tasmania’s metrics in 2024
• Nearly half of Tasmanian students aren’t graduating high school, more young people are leaving Tasmania every year, and the state’s population growth is the slowest in the country -While initiatives are being deployed across the public and private sectors to boost education and employment, key obstacles may relate more to cost-of-living and quality-of-life challenges
• Throughout 2024, companies and government departments have been endeavouring to improve Tasmania’s education, population, and employment outcomes.

In June, the Tasmanian government announced an independent review into the state’s education sector. In the same period, Tourism Tasmania launched a globally-recognised Odd Jobs campaign to persuade interstate visitors to give Tasmania a try. In August, forty schools were trialling a new language disorder screening tool to help improve literacy in schools.

“The span of opportunities for Tasmanians is very different to other locations around Australia and that tends to lead to different thinking about things like work, education, and where young Tasmanians may choose to live,” says The Project Lab Head of Operations Zara Pyke. “The perceived Return-on-Investment for high school or university isn’t the same.”

While felt more keenly in Tasmania, it’s actually a problem being faced by much of Australia. Over the last five years, high school completion rates have dropped by approximately 5% nationwide. Recent reports suggest university completion rates are at their lowest levels since 2014 - with nearly half of tertiary students surveyed feeling they don’t belong at their university.

“When we encourage people to stay in Tasmania or come to Tasmania, I think we have a tendency to undersell our uniqueness,” Zara says. “We try to compete with urban centres like Sydney or Melbourne and say we’re just the same. We aren’t, really. But, that should be an asset. Australia-wide, traditional approaches aren’t working for so many people. We can offer something different.”

Typically, a lack of professional opportunity is cited as a reason for Tasmania’s slow-growth population numbers. Earlier this year, a review of Tasmanian population risks found that 61% of Tasmanians surveyed were over-qualified for their jobs. However, issues around quality-of-life and cost-of-living may mean more to today’s young people.

In 2024, Tasmania is the second-least affordable state in Australia in regards to home ownership. According to Mission Australia, nearly a quarter of Tasmania’s homeless population is under the age of 24. At the same time, marginalised communities and professionals throughout Tasmania are facing increased stress and violence.

“I was told recently that Tasmania was the only state in the country where job-seekers prioritise work-life balance ahead of compensation,” Zara reflects. “I think that’s telling. At our best, we’re a community-driven state. And, if we invest in providing that sense of community, trust, security, and stability for our people, I think we’ll build the best environment for recruitment, education, and population growth. We need to invest in our difference.”

For organisational leaders, meaningful steps toward inclusion, connection, and community can help secure greater outcomes across the board. Some schools have implemented training to help students identify and stand up to prejudice, for example. In seeking talent, explicit support for diversity and flexibility is a powerful approach.

Feel free to reach out to Zara directly at Zara.Pyke@theprojectlab.com to discuss your organisation's recruitment and training approaches.

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