A Search for Meaning? An Age-Based and Generational Perspective on French Youth and their Relationship to Work
This article examines the evolving relationship to work among French youth, in the context of relatively unstable employment and deteriorating conditions for entry-level employees. It explores the objective dimensions of work (such as job quality), and more subjective considerations related to career paths, work situations, and professional or social priorities. The study draws on two complementary sources. The generational surveys conducted by the Centre d’études et de recherches sur les qualifications (Céreq) have allowed us to examine how representations of work shifted across an 18-year span. Meanwhile, data related to a single cohort of young people over seven years of their working life have allowed us to assess the effect of age. We explore the latter in terms of individual life and work experiences, the stages involved in the transition to adulthood, social background, and gender. Ultimately, the article identifies four categories of youth, each of which corresponds to a distinct and subjective relationship to work. These categories reflect various degrees of satisfaction and resignation in relation to work situations, setbacks, and opportunities for advancement. However, most young people remain optimistic about the future.