Flexible and Creative

Essential factors for 18-30 years olds here in France, if they expect to have a future in the job market.

Been reading various articles to try a get an idea of the work market for young people. It's as challenging here as it is in the UK. What I've gleaned is as follows - it comes from various sources.

There was an enquiry at the beginning of 2014 concerning this age group, which numbers 21% of the workforce. Half of them seem to believe they will never have as good a life as their parents and about 30% believe they will never escape being in financial crisis. Statistics support these views.

22% of young people are still unemployed  three months after having finished their studies. This % increases to 48% amongst the less qualified. There is a precariousness attached to any employment  these days which functions on temporary or fixed-term contracts. Amongst these young people, the feeling of social injustice is well-established. Qualified or over-qualified, the reality for many is reliance on the minimum wage.

The family in France remains a huge source of emotional and material support, with the 40 or 50 year old parents themselves affected by the crisis and at times, periods of unemployment. The enquiry revealed that amongst the young, more than half receive financial aid from their parents, even when they are working. 36% of 18-30s are also still living with their parents at home - a situation which was made the subject of a film called Tanguy, which we watched on t.v. last year. Excellent film.

Although supportive, the parental generation can find itself at odds in the working world, with their own children, who reproach their parents for not making room for them. To some extent there has always been inter-generational tension in the job market.  However whilst their professional lives are often difficult, the younger generation are actively pursuing other aspects of their lives that they want to achieve as citizens.

Personal fulfillment and community are very important. This younger generation is well informed, well connected and are, intuitively, IT whizzes. Being unable to integrate immediately into society, means they have had to find other ways to engage, which are frequently through community organisations.

Those who have found work often surprise business leaders in their attitude to it. Adaptability seems to be the key amongst today's 18-30s in terms of level of salary and job opportunity.  In return they can be less attached and don't give a corporate career structure the same degree of importance as previous generations have done. There is a preference for acquiring a range of professional experience, rather than staying in one place. What counts above all else is the balance between the professional life and the private life.

In some respects this mirrors my own work experience when I first started in the late 60s. You gained experience by moving around. The difference being that then there was always something to move  to, without the need to be overly motivated. Motivation and adaptability (amongst other things) have kept me employable my entire working life, including a number of career changes and being head-hunted.  So there are aspects within current trends that I totally relate to.
Heaven help anybody though who doesn't 'fit the bill' and doesn't have the resources to help themselves.