Voices on Work: AI use by young job seekers in Western Sydney

Insights from research with young people on how AI is used in job applications and why employer practices matter for fair access to work.

In employment discussions, the focus is often on how AI will reshape jobs and how employers are adopting AI in recruitment, rather than how young people themselves are engaging with these tools. This report examines how young people in Western Sydney use tools such as ChatGPT and other AI enabled supports in the job application process and what this means for fairness and access to work opportunities – with a particular focus on young people from less privileged backgrounds, with no university experience. It draws on interviews, focus groups, and a survey with 63 young people.

The findings show limited and uneven use of AI, driven by low confidence, unclear rules, and lack of guidance. They suggest AI is becoming a new layer of inequality in job seeking and recommends reliable guidance, transparent employer practices and targeted support for young people outside higher education.