Revolutionising Career Readiness: The Case for AI-Powered Guidance in Australian Schools

Only a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine how dramatically the world of work would change. Yet in that short time, the combined impact of a global pandemic, economic turbulence, rapid technological acceleration and growing climate pressures has transformed the workforce - reshaping traditional career paths and introducing entirely new ones. For today’s school leavers, the landscape they’re entering is profoundly different from the one previous generations experienced.

Amid all this change, one constant remains - the uncertainty many young people feel when deciding what to do after school. In fact, according to the latest After the ATAR report by Year13, over a third of young Australians still don’t know which career they want to pursue, and nearly half say they find it difficult to match their skills to a suitable job - often self-qualifying out of pathways due to a perceived lack of education or suitability and therefore limiting exposure to the breadth of opportunity available. This uncertainty contrasts with the growing demand for talent across key sectors. With skill shortages in industries ranging from healthcare and construction to cybersecurity and AI, there is a clear opportunity to help young people align their career choices with the needs of the job market.

This is where embracing cutting-edge assessment technologies can truly transform how young people navigate their career paths. Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, we now have access to tools that can pinpoint an individual’s strengths and align them with career options with unprecedented scientific accuracy. These aren’t your typical personality tests or interest surveys - they're world-class psychometric and aptitude assessments that are being used by governments and major corporations globally to inform critical workforce decisions.

Yet despite their proven effectiveness in professional settings, these tools remain underutilised in the one place they could have the greatest impact - our schools.

Through our work supporting thousands of Australians into high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, and software development, we’ve seen firsthand the power of these AI-driven assessments. By matching individuals to pathways based on real data and potential - not guesswork - we unlock opportunities that might otherwise go unseen.

It’s this same evidence-based approach we're bringing to schools through Forge Your Future. Using advanced algorithms and validated psychometric models, we’re now assessing students’ potential to acquire in-demand STEM skills and forecasting their likelihood of success in future roles, before they even graduate. While Forge Your Future is funded by the Department of Defence via the defence industry School Pathway Program and is focused on STEM careers within Australia’s defence industry sector, the technology behind it has broader potential. It can empower all young people, regardless of their interests, to make more confident, informed, and accurate career choices.

This approach is especially important given the pressing need to raise awareness of emerging, future-focused roles. Year13’s report shows that teaching, healthcare, and engineering remain popular choices - an encouraging trend given the critical shortages in these fields. Yet, alongside these established careers, there is also a growing demand for roles like sustainability consultants, data analysts, and AI specialists. These aren’t jobs of the distant future - they’re in demand now and set to grow rapidly.

At the same time, traditional sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing remain essential to Australia’s economy but struggle to attract young people’s interest. This isn’t due to a lack of opportunity, rather it’s a visibility gap. Advanced assessment technologies can help bridge this gap by enabling students to discover and explore career fields they may not have been aware of, matching their skills and interests with emerging opportunities.

It’s very difficult for 16- and 17-year-olds to navigate complex career choices, and the data backs this up. Many young Australians (86%) don’t have a detailed career plan, and only 1 in 3 find their high school work experience helpful in making career decisions. On top of this, three-quarters have little understanding of industries facing skill shortages.

While educators are deeply committed to preparing students for life beyond school and traditional supports like career counselling remain essential, we now have the opportunity to raise the bar by also equipping young people with cutting-edge technological driven insights.

The solution begins with giving them access to the right tools, and early enough to make a real impact. Science-backed, AI-driven psychometric assessments and aptitude profiling aren’t just for executives or corporate recruitment. When applied effectively, they can help students gain a clearer understanding of themselves and where they’re most likely to thrive.