Youth at Work in France: Finding a Place
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.