Project 100 has been launched by five job agencies – The Personnel Group, MADEC, CVGT, Sureway and Eworks.

It has the backing of member for Farrer Sussan Ley and the mayors of Albury and Wodonga, Kevin Mack and Anna Speedie.

The scheme will see the introduction of the federal government’s Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare, Trial, HIre) which allows employers to examine a prospective worker via an internship before hiring.

If the candidate is hired the boss may score government cash for training and development of the new worker.

Job seekers will receive a $200 fortnightly payment on top of their dole during their internship.

“The Border’s 10 to 14 per cent jobless youth figure is two to three times more than the overall unemployment rate and an issue we clearly want to address,” Ms Ley said.

“Project 100 can go a long way to dropping those numbers.”

Eworks recruitment consultant Ali Johnson said Project 100 would be “massive” and was badly needed to tackle the high youth unemployment of the Border.

“This benefits absolutely every kind of business because there’s someone that wants to work in whatever industry there is – whether it is administration, retail or hospitality,” Ms Johnson said.

Sureway employment recruitment consultant Lucille Trevaskis, who seeks out openings with companies, said the retail sector was a bit slow, hospitality was improving but manufacturing remained the hardest area to find work.

She said bosses were concerned about the work ethic of youngsters and some had been “burnt”, so she believes the “try before you buy” approach of PaTH will help.

Personnel Group case manager John Watson, who is also a Wodonga councillor, helps the young unemployed prepare themselves for work.

“There are just simple things that can help sometimes, things like coming to interviews with a collared shirt not a T-shirt,” Mr Watson said.

The Personnel Group and Eworks alone have nearly 200 young jobseekers registered with them.