Not just pay, what young people are looking for from work

Salary is not the only element young people look at when choosing a job, but other factors also count a lot. This is one of the main conclusions reached by the 'Young people and work' survey, promoted by Confartigianato Imprese Piemonte Orientale, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO) with the support of the Chamber of Commerce Monte Rosa, Lakes, Upper Piedmont.

The survey involved a sample of one thousand young Italians - between the ages of 18 and 39, 81% of whom were high school graduates and 16% university graduates, interviewed in February of this year - and was drawn up jointly by Format Research and the UPO working group formed by Eliana Baici, professor of economic policy, Carmen Aina and Samuele Poy, researchers. "It is meant to be an operational tool, a premise for a subsequent, future Observatory, a work that aims to respond to two pivotal themes: what enterprises expect from young people but also what young people expect from enterprises," explained Confartigianato director Amleto Impaloni when presenting the study. Professor Baici pointed out that the employment rate in Italy is still low, 'a sign of still unexpressed potential. The survey shows that it is not only the economic issue that interests young people in their search for employment, but other aspects intervene: the quality of the working environment, a good relationship in the company, good welfare provision and a composition of work and life times that leaves room for human and personal relations. We need more communication towards young people, the possibility to quickly find information on jobs, companies, opportunities'. 81.2% of those interviewed put adequate remuneration first when choosing a job, 74.4% opted for an occupation that allows them to work in adequate safety conditions, 66.2% favoured contractual stability (permanent employment), and 65.4% considered adequate availability of free time to be important. The survey also shows that the greatest obstacles in finding a job are insufficient experience of the potential candidate (38.9%) and difficulties in managing one's free time (35.9%). While among the elements that could speed up the job search, 57.5% indicate the accessibility of information and support for writing one's CV (56.6%).

The study also had a focus on the logistics and transport sector, which is associated by young people with negative aspects, such as a sense of loneliness and strenuous work. Among the critical aspects of working as a HGV driver that emerge are the traffic, the poor career prospects and the low esteem of the clientele. In this regard, 'a new regulation of driving and rest times can help many young people to approach the world of trucking,' emphasised Rossano Denetto, an official of Confartigianato Imprese Orientale Piemonte.