Many young West Australians are struggling to get a job because the process of getting a driver's licence is too hard, a survey has found.

The Youth Affairs Council surveyed more than 1,100 young people, with more than half saying their access to employment and education had been negatively affected because of difficulties obtaining a licence.

Almost a third said they were either prevented from applying for a job or limited to applying for jobs in their immediate area.

Some respondents complained there was a vicious cycle because they could not afford driving lessons without a job, but could not get a decent job without a licence.

Getting a driver's licence in WA: Get a learner's permit by passing a theory test

Get a learner's permit by passing a theory test Complete 25 hours of supervised driving

Complete 25 hours of supervised driving Pass a practical driving assessment

Pass a practical driving assessment Complete a further 25 hours of supervised driving

Complete a further 25 hours of supervised driving Pass a hazard perception test

Pass a hazard perception test Get a provisional licence (P plates)

Get a provisional licence (P plates) Display P plates for two years

"I've had a few job opportunities I've had to pass up simply because I did not have a driver's licence," one respondent said.

"I had been trying for years, but the process itself is expensive ... and it is hard to pay for when working a low-income job."

Some people said they had lost their jobs or found them difficult to retain as a result of the problem.

"I lost my apprenticeship because of the remaining six months I had to wait ... [my] boss lost too much money," one person said.

"I received an apprenticeship this year and it's really important to have a driver's licence to make your options a lot more broader," another person said.

"I'm in the six-month waiting period right now and I'm constantly asked when can I start driving at work, only to tell them I have to wait to December."

Licences out of reach for many

Youth Affairs Council chief executive Craig Comrie said getting a driver's licence in WA was an ordeal.

"Young people are required to have 25 hours of supervised driving in order to get their provisional plates and then another 25 hours to obtain their [provisional licence] over a mandatory 12-month period," he said.

"For many young people, particularly those who do not live at home or do not have a relationship with their parents, finding an adult to supervise them for 50 hours is impossible.

"And for a lot of young people, particularly from low socio-economic backgrounds, paying for lessons is just not an option.

"It can cost more than $3,500 to get your licence, and for many young people, this is out of reach."

Mr Comrie said more needed to be done to assist young people.

"What we really need to do is look at a way to subsidise the costs or to provide young people with access to parents or guardians in order to get those supervised hours so they can actually get their licence," he said.

"In every other state in the country there are programs that support young people to be able to get their supervised driving hours.

"The other thing that could be considered is using volunteers to help support young people or even seniors who may have retired and have some extra time," he said.