And a study by education think-tank the Mitchell Institute has revealed that more than 40 per cent of Tasmanian 19-year-olds did not complete year 12 or equivalent qualifications in 2014.

Tasmania had the lowest proportion of 24-year-olds involved in education, work or training in any jurisdiction in Australia apart from the Northern Territory at 67.1 per cent.

Tasmania also had the lowest proportion of 20-to-24-year-olds enrolled in higher education in the country, at just 15.3 per cent, just over half the national average.

Tasmania did, however, have a higher percentage of 20-to-24-year-olds involved in vocational education and training than the national average, and exceeded every other jurisdiction in the percentage of those involved in apprenticeships and traineeships.

Australian Education Union state secretary Terry Polglase said the low number of young Tasmanians entering into higher education could be attributed to the state’s economic position.

Mr Polglase said students entering the University in Tasmania faced the prospect of a high HECS debt and no guarantee of employment within the state.

‘‘It’s not our education system that’s at fault here, it’s about how it connects to industry and all of those other aspects to help students become employed and to go into areas where the growth areas are and training exists,’’ he said.

‘‘The aspirations aren’t there, and not only that, do [the students] feel as though there is a guarantee that if they get their university qualification is there a strong likelihood that they will get a job in Tasmania?’’

The state government announced a $19 million investment into training and jobs on Saturday, including $16 million for a program to provide subsidies for registered training organisations to cover the cost of providing training to apprentices and trainees.