One of Australia’s best-known entrepreneurs is pushing young Australians to consider taking up a trade rather than “wasting time” at university studying a degree in the arts.
Jim Penman, the founder of Jim’s Group, spoke out against arts degrees, despite having a doctorate in history.
“I can tell you that what I learned in my art career had absolutely nothing to do with what I have achieved in business.”
“An arts degree is an incredible waste of time, and I think the problem is that they are heavily subsidized by the government,” Mr Penman said.
“And yet apprenticeship training, which is basically working with people who are not so academic, is underfunded,” he said.
‘It’s as if there was some kind of government policy that said, well, we can do without plumbers and electricians, but you can never have too many art historians.
“We need more builders, we need people who can make things.”
Jim Penman, the founder of Jim’s Group, advised young Australians to take up a trade, despite having a PhD in history.
Students need to start focusing on the trades again, as there are many opportunities and money to be made in the sector, Penman said.
He told Daily Mail Australia that the belief that one must attend university and obtain a degree to get a job is misguided as it does not necessarily provide the practical skills needed for a job.
‘Nowadays you have to make a career, but when you leave you still don’t know anything about anything.
“But if you have a couple of years of experience in something and you’re really capable of doing something, then it’s pretty easy to get a job,” Penman said.
‘The problem is that you go to university and learn something for someone who has never been in this field. You know what they say, the ones they can do and the ones they can’t teach.’
He said many young Australians feel compelled to obtain degrees because companies require them.
“More and more people are pursuing tertiary studies in general, because they recognize that large companies require it,” he explained.
But in reality you spent three years at university studying a useless subject. That way at least you know you can handle the boredom.
Penman suggested the government needs to increase funding for business qualifications.
“Much more money should be invested in business skills and basic skills,” he said.
He said Australia’s business education system also needed to be reformed.
“If you want to get into roof plumbing, which is basically sheet iron, you have to do a four-year apprenticeship course,” he said.
‘So [we need] an education system that allows people to learn to do these kinds of things more quickly and just be tested.’
Penman highlighted his company’s ability to train franchisees in business skills in eight weeks.
‘We teach people how to build fences and fences are a fantastic business, very lucrative, there is a lot of work to do to make a living.
“We teach one person eight weeks from scratch and they are good fencers.”
He suggested that the government should consider adopting a comparable model for vocational training.
The businessman said one way to boost the process was to offer government subsidies to employers, incentivizing them to hire more apprentices.
Penman added that the entire trades education system needs an overhaul, as many apprenticeships simply take too long to complete.
The founder of Jim’s Group launched the company while completing his own PhD in history and it is now a franchise operating in four countries.
Jim’s Group specializes in practical trades such as plumbing, lawn mowing, fencing, roofing and cleaning.
The company was founded in 1982 while Mr Penman was completing his studies and has since expanded to become a franchise in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada.
Billionaire businessman Dick Smith was also pressuring young Australians to consider taking up a trade rather than studying at university.
“If you want to be a doctor or an engineer, well, that (education) is a necessity, but it is very often wasted, especially among people who get arts degrees and never use them,” Mr Smith previously told Daily Mail Australia . this year.
The businessman said Australia needs more skilled tradespeople as record population growth, fueled by immigration, puts more pressure on the housing crisis.
“A trader can make a lot of money, especially if they open their own business,” Mr Smith said.
‘My local electrician, he’s a millionaire. He has done very well. So, to me, a trader who opens his own business can do incredibly well in Australia.
Australian businessman Dick Smith says having a degree is not “necessary” to be successful in Australia. Upstairs with his wife Pip
“I think there are greater possibilities for a qualified person to open their own business and employ their own people, than someone with an arts degree.”
Many Australians share both couples’ perspective on the value of trades over a university education.
“I totally agree – even if they increased funding for useful university courses like law, business, engineering and medicine, and got students to fund their own ‘fun’ courses, it would make a big difference,” said one.
“University in general is a scam and does not provide adequate integrated training and experience,” a second agreed.
However, others suggested young Australians follow their passions.
“Just study what you’re passionate about, not everything in life has to be a hustle,” one added.
“I agree that more money should be invested in vocational training, but such careers are not for everyone and many useful career paths are supported by arts degrees,” said a second.
A third added: “I’ll take my arts degree and the critical thinking skills it taught me over whatever this right-wing millionaire is selling.”
WHY I REGRET GOING TO UNI
Chelsea Taylor, a Melbourne woman, has three unfinished university degrees and around $30,000 in student debt.
The 23-year-old told Daily Mail Australia she felt a “big push to go to university” and did a year studying sports science, teaching and nursing.
“It was at the end of my third year of university that I realized I didn’t want to be there – I didn’t enjoy university and it wasn’t leading me to what I wanted,” Ms Taylor said.
Ms Taylor said she felt “lost” and insecure about her career when her brother saw a television advert calling for Melbourne Metro Train drivers.
The young Australian applied and got the role. He has been working as a train driver since September 2020.
Chelsea Taylor, 23, felt a “big push to go to university” and after three unfinished university degrees and around $30,000 in debt she found a job she loves as a train driver for the Melbourne Metro.
“When I started as a train driver I didn’t know anything about trains… but the training required was incredibly comprehensive,” Ms Taylor said.
“It can be a challenging job, it’s a big responsibility transporting hundreds of people at a time, but it’s worth it,” Ms Taylor said.
Mrs. Taylor wished she had discovered his work sooner.
“When I finished high school, I didn’t know there were great jobs available if you didn’t go to university or TAFE,” Ms Taylor said.
‘There’s also a stigma that if you don’t go to university, you’re wasting an opportunity. I think this couldn’t be more wrong.’