Ms Allan used Australian Bureau of Statistics data to paint a dire picture for those aged 15 to 24, with the one-month rate at 30.9 per cent in August. Over three months to July, the figure sat at 22.8 per cent.

Ms Allan said these figures could not be ignored.

"We see less money in TAFE, courses being cut and reduced training opportunities," she said.

"I think it speaks to the leadership, or the lack thereof. If you don't have a jobs plan, how can the community know what direction we're taking."

The one-month figure drew on a sample size of 50 people in Bendigo, while the three-month number had a sample size of 270.

From the three months to August, the overall unemployment rate in Bendigo was 8.4 per cent.

Goldfields Local Learning and Employment Network partnership broker Chris Coughlan said the government needed to make sure schools had the resources to provide the best possible advice for school leavers.

He said governments also needed to ensure training organisations were providing relevant and comprehensive skills.

"It would be great if every school had a fully funded careers advice counsellor and welfare officer to make sure students had the best possible learning environment," Mr Coughlan said.

"At the moment, a lot of schools have career advisers who are also teachers and have a number of roles. It really needs to be a full time role."

The state government disputed Ms Allan's interpretation of the jobless figures, saying 3700 more people were employed in Bendigo than in 2010.

Treasurer Michael O'Brien said government infrastructure projects in Bendigo could help the unemployment rate.

"The Coalition government is supporting local jobs by investing in local infrastructure, including the Bendigo Hospital, and recently reducing payroll tax," he said.

"Jacinta Allan is cherry picking different data at different times in order to talk down the local economy and to talk down local business and consumer confidence."