Young people and work – one reality?
In part one, examining the validity of treating “young people” as one homogeneous reality, we first demonstrate the irrelevance of using the concept of “Generation Z” (“Gen Z”) to understand how young people see the world of work.
By distinguishing between the open and closed job markets, we then highlight the existence of a hierarchy of needs relating to the work environment. The reality of such a hierarchy (or pyramid) actually explains why young people in North America and Europe make personal happiness their priority, whereas those living in other parts of the world are more concerned with achieving success, and particularly professional success (Higher Education for Good Foundation, 2023). Without some degree of security (financial, contractual, etc.), environmental, social and governance considerations become secondary when looking for work.
These elements support the idea that, despite facing structurally distinct economic realities, the youths of different countries are nonetheless comparable: once the hierarchy of needs is taken into account, it becomes possible to detect common fundamental aspirations. [...]
What can be done to meet the employment aspirations of young people?
The aim of the second part of this report is to present the options available to the stakeholders involved (institutions and companies) to re-establish a relationship with young people and, in doing so, make a positive contribution to changing their attitudes toward work. Generally speaking, the first step for these stakeholders is to lower their barriers to entry. Where institutions and public authorities are concerned, it is important to work toward an effective and efficient representation of young people in decision-making bodies. This is true for the development of public policies in general, not just for those relating to employment. As the OECD puts it: no trust without participation (OECD, 2020). To render societal norms acceptable, every individual must have the opportunity to take part in their production. [...]
Technical and societal developments and the expectations of young people
To assess the potential impact of these developments on young people, the third and final part of our report analyses two salient trends in the world of work: the emergence of the green economy to address environmental challenges, and the digitalisation and automation of jobs through artificial intelligence (AI). Young people are on the front line of these changes. [...]
Read the full study here