Jeunes au travail en France : en quête d’une place

Abstract

It is often said, especially by those in management, that young people lack commitment to work. Based
 on a recent study conducted in France involving interviews with 60 individuals under the age of 30 who
 have obtained at least a secondary school diploma (baccalauréat) and who are neither “high fliers” nor
 particularly vulnerable, this article sets out to assess the truth of such claims. Drawing and building on
 already published research, the analysis pushes beyond conventional ideas to provide a more
 comprehensive view of youth attitudes towards work. It therefore aims to gain a deeper understanding
 of young people’s concrete relationships with work by examining their work experiences and career
 strategies. The interview data show that young people are prepared to work within a hierarchical
 management structure and, on occasion, to tolerate difficult working conditions and unfavourable terms
 of employment. All things considered, they appear interested in finding a place in the professional world,
 especially insofar as work is commonly seen as a pathway to autonomy.

Decent Work and Representations of Work among Unskilled and Low-Skilled Emerging Adults in France

“…First, a job should allow living according to standard contextual norms, guarantee social ties, and allow skill development. However, the perception and recognition related to occupations vary according to environments and cultures (Gaviria & Mélo, 2018). Thus, representations of work depend on socio-cultural contexts.…”