Workers under twenty-five years old call for reforms
Revamped Report:
Youth Employment in Modern Russia: A Fresh Approach
A chunk of young folks (33%) are game for jumping from job to job, seeking varied experiences or a perfect fit, according to a report by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM), titled "Youth Employment in Contemporary Russia." This study stemmed from a poll of 1,600 Russians spread across four groups: university and college seniors, and their alumni.
Students nearing graduation are the most eager job-hoppers, with an astounding 36% expressing this penchant. Conversely, young professionals with higher education yearn more for long-term career growth within a single company, with merely 29% aiming for frequent employment swaps. The report's authors remark that this yearning for a dynamic career might overlook the formalization of employment regulations, contradicting the government's policy against shadow employment (as reported in "Kommersant" on April 28).
Interestingly, job seekers often prize daily wages, as is common with piecework, over twice-monthly paychecks, occasionally to dodge tax deductions. Notably, "Kommersant" has previously revealed that some firms in certain regions are compelled to off-books payments due to employee requests, though these reports were related to older specialists with overdue loans (as reported in "Kommersant" on May 23, 2024).
The VCIOM data reveals a surge in young Russians launching their careers while still in school. The survey shows that 77% of university seniors have previously held part-time jobs during the past academic year. Among them, 32% took on full-time positions for a specified period, with work during vacations (17%), one-off jobs during the academic year (13%), and replacing academics with work (4%) being the most popular options. This trend echoes the government's objectives emphasized in the new national project "Kadry" - reducing the age at which careers commence and bridging the gap between the skills students acquire and employer demands.
The authors of the report suggest that universities have evolved their views regarding employers, no longer considering them rivals encroaching on student time. Instead, employers now aim to engage young job seekers as early as possible, addressing the current labor shortage, with unemployment at a historic low of 2.3% in March.
Anastasia Manuilova
In the realm of education, a growing interest in hybrid learning formats that merge classroom and online education, as well as micro-credential programs and practical learning experiences, can be inferred among Russian youth[3]. This interest in flexible and practical learning pathways might influence their job preferences, although specific trends regarding job stability and frequent changes among Russian youth are best obtained from reports or studies solely focused on Russian youth employment and attitudes, such as the mentioned VCIOM report.
- To ensure long-term career growth and better manage personal-finance, some young professionals are choosing to stay with a single company, rather than job-hopping as a strategy to find the perfect fit.
- Financial education is crucial for young people, as many job seekers prioritize daily wages, even if it means avoiding tax deductions, which is a debatable practice in debt-management.
- A significant number of students are balancing their academic life with part-time jobs, highlighting the need for budgeting skills and time management in education-and-self-development.
- Embracing practical learning experiences, such as internships and apprenticeships, can provide job-searchers with the necessary skills training to stand out in today's competitive career-development landscape.
- As the demand for flexible and practical learning pathways grows among Russian youth, institutions may need to shift their focus towards hybrid learning formats, micro-credential programs, and skills-training in order to better align with the needs of the modern job market.
