Australian high school graduates without university degrees can earn six-figure salaries with KPMG
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How high school students without uni degrees can earn a six-figure salary in Australia’s growing tech industry
- KPMG school leaver program could eventually earn them a six-figure salary
- The high school graduates can avoid college debt through the job program
- Richard Marrison of the massive company said the average salary is ‘pretty high’
- Pandemic issues and the rapid growth of the tech industry fueled the hiring drive
School leavers have been given the chance to take home “six-figure salaries” later on, while a professional services firm is looking for new talent.
Graduates will be able to complete a three-year pilot internship at KPMG Australia next year, without going to university first.
The rapid growth of the tech sector coupled with a reduced number of migrants to Australia who previously held such positions led to a drought among workers as the company found it difficult to fill graduate positions.
The rapid growth of the tech sector and the lack of immigrants largely used to fill the roles has led to a drought in tech graduates for the company
KPMG’s chief technology consultancy Richard Marrison said: 7News the pandemic has ‘cut off’ the steady stream of immigrants entering the labor market.
So the consultancy went to West Sydney schools to hunt for potential recruits this year, selecting 11 high school students to join the program.
The region has a lower prevalence of school-leavers pursuing university studies.
In some schools their access to laptops was restricted.
“We thought, well, there’s probably a lot of really smart young people out there, but for whatever reason, and it could be social, cultural or economic reasons, they choose not to go to college,” Marrison said. .
“But they’re still smart kids who could work in our industry.”
The job program has been successful: all high school recruits passed their TAFE studies in the first year, with no dropout
The recruits hired last year went to TAFE one day a week and spent the rest of the time in all sectors of KPMG, including data analytics, cyber work and software implementation.
The recruits hired last year attended TAFE one day a week and spent the rest of the time working in all sectors of KPMG, including data analytics, cyber work and software implementation.
The job program has been successful: all students passed their TAFE study in the first year, without dropping out.
Mr Marrison said the engagement and enthusiasm was very high, with great feedback from both sides.
KPMG plans to increase graduate numbers in Sydney next year and expand the program to other offices in the country.
Richard Marrison, KPMG’s head of technology consultancy (pictured) said the engagement and enthusiasm was very high, with great feedback from both sides
“We think we’re doing something really positive by giving kids who wouldn’t normally get the chance to join our profession,” he said.
Marrison said the salary “can reach well into the six figures very quickly.”
“(The average salary) is quite high,” he added.
Entry-level jobs in the tech sector pay 32 percent more than the economy-wide average, according to a 2022 report by the Tech Council of Australia.
“Weekly jobs in the tech sector pay 64 percent more than the average for the entire economy,” the report said.
‘About 40 percent of people in the tech sector have no tertiary education.
“In the tech sector, there are 1.5 to 1 more Australians in the tech sector who attended public schools than those who attended private schools.”
Graduates will be able to complete a three-year pilot internship at KPMG Australia next year, without having accumulated HELP debt through university studies
“About 40 percent of people in the tech sector do not have a tertiary degree,” according to a report from the Tech Council of Australia.