| THE JOB EXPECTATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE 12/05/2010 |
| Last updated: 2010-05-13 13:55 EET |
A study commissioned by the National Employment Agency released recently shows that most people aged 15 to 25 have never worked, but that they want to have fair bosses and a good pay. Research coordinator doctor Melania Bortun has more:
“Young people are generally preoccupied with the bosses’ fairness. Most of the interviewees have already had work experiences and contact with employers before we conducted the study. Most of them say that their family has given them the most important backing, which prompts us to believe that it is mostly parents who want them to get hired. Young people are not very keen on getting a job. They aren’t really seriously looking for a job. It is their parents rather who look for a job for them.’’
On the other hand, sociologist Marin Burcea, a researcher with the Urban and Regional Sociology Center has looked into various surveys that the center has conducted nationally. Their target were young people aged between 15 and 35. Burcea told us:
‘’By the age of 18, which is the legal age in Romania, 20% of young people have already had a job. It is worth noting that 90% of youths have got a job by the age of 23. Many work while going to university, but the main point is that they tend to get hired very early. 30% of them say they are relatively happy, which is very interesting. Another 30% believe themselves to be prepared, but 58% of them are however looking for certain forms of furthering their skills. So this is an active model we’re talking about. Young people work and are keen on entering the labor market earlier. There are people who want to further their skills and there are others who are unhappy for not receiving hiring incentives. A mere 10 to 11% of them are happy with the incentives that employers give them upon hiring.’’
Sociologist Marin Burcea has an explanation for the fact that the highest expectations from a job for the youth are fair employers and a good salary:
“Many young people work in micro-companies, more precisely 27 percent in micro-companies and 30 in small companies. These types of companies are drastically influenced by how the Romanian economy is running. Employers of such companies are also most affected by salary policies. Young people are hired much more easily, but can suffer more from the fluctuations on the labor market.”
The situation in rural areas is even more difficult than in the city, as employment opportunities are much slimmer. Young people from rural areas do not have sufficient mobility and opportunities for information, which could explain why they feel abandoned.
Some of the young people interviewed said that they aren't looking for jobs, but rather wish to go to university, while 15 percent said they do not have a job, never had one, and aren't looking for one. Melania Bortun, the research coordinator, told us what social categories the latter come from:
“We're talking mainly about young women who are thinking about becoming housewives or people considering a future in agriculture. So, we're not talking about potential employees. Some even told us that they prefer working as day laborers for 2 or 3 months a year rather than getting a job in the city. These were people mostly from rural areas with very few local job opportunities.”
Another conclusion of the study is that the youth, mainly between 15 and 19, need a mediator between themselves and the employer. In other words, the National Employment Authority needs to provide clear, accessible information on available jobs, as well as consultancy services for those looking for a job, how to prepare for an interview, write a good resume and improve relations with employers.
|
2010-09-10
Print
