Taranaki teens optimistic despite high youth unemployment and spectre of AI

Despite high youth unemployment and the looming threat of artificial intelligence (AI), teenagers attending the Taranaki Careers and Training Expo remain optimistic about their futures. Taranaki Careers and Training Expo Trust chair, Warwick Foy, noted that young people are taking AI in stride, viewing it as a tool rather than a replacement for human jobs. Education providers and employers at the expo were displaying their offerings to over 3,000 attendees.

Barbering student Will Thomas expressed confidence in his chosen career path, highlighting the creativity and adaptability required in his profession. Kellie Divane, head of Hair and Beauty at Witt, stated that her courses were as popular as ever, emphasizing the personal nature of the work that AI could not replicate.

While the youth unemployment rate increased to 13.8 percent for 15 to 24-year-olds from 12.9 percent in the three months ending June, according to Stats NZ, many teenagers are employed part-time and shielded from the full impact of the unemployment figures. Foy advised young people to have a well-planned education, choose a suitable career path, and remain adaptable as the economy recovers.

Iclaudius Waipouri, a student at Te Hera Māpara in Hāwera, expressed ambition for a career in policing, and was tested on his physical fitness. Constable Aimee Baldwin deemed him suitable for the role. Meanwhile, New Plymouth Boys High student Joeli Nakuta was exploring higher education, with an interest in studying psychology at the University of Otago. Joeli felt confident that the current state of AI would not hinder his future prospects, stating that it was not advanced enough to impact his career path just yet.