The idea was raised at a Business Leaders' Forum in Albury on Friday which brought together major employers, such as Visy, Norske Skog and Wilson Transformers, employment agencies, federal politicians and Albury and Wodonga's mayors.

ATEL job agency regional manager Tony Trevaskis suggested the work day idea after hearing Wilson Transformers had been engaging the children of employees during school holidays for the past 10 years.

Wilson Transformer general manager Jon Retford said the paid program for those 14 and older boosted confidence, tested the company's set-up, embedded a work routine and changed attitudes of workers to safety.

A five-point plan to lift youth jobs was adopted at the end of the forum.

It involved boosting engagement with families and schools, improving transport, boosting knowledge of job market and mentoring of youngsters.

Federal MPs Sussan Ley and Cathy McGowan said they would back the plan after hearing that government subsidies to encourage the hiring of youngsters was failing.

Visy manager Lloyd Johnson said engaging with year 8 and 9 students through factory tours was more important than subsidies.

“We can't get employees and we've got operators coming into our business earning $100,000 a year unskilled,” Mr Johnson said.

Mr Retford said business growth was the key to employing more workers and "we're just not going to employ them because of subsidies".

Developing a regularly operating bus service between La Trobe and Charles Sturt universities was pushed by former Albury mayor Kevin Mack who chaired the forum.

Mentoring won backing with Personnel Group chief Tracey Fraser telling of a speed-dating-type process she had witnessed in the US which resulted in youngsters choosing their guide.

Australian Industry Group manager Tim Farrah suggested utilising the skills of 50 or more successful retired business people as mentors.

Victorian Education Department representative Debbie Lane said the assumptions within schools of what industry was differed from the reality.

She said that problem had been tackled in Shepparton by four high schools, a TAFE and university banding together to link employers with students through each institution having a special interest.

Details of the five-point plan will be presented to a community breakfast on May 17 which will see interested parties, such as school principals, invited.

Friday's forum was the brainchild of Cr Mack and Sarina Russo Apprenticeships field operations manager Lisa Veale who wanted to find a way to offer young job seekers greater support.