Authors

• Advisory Council for Youth Affairs (Nuora)
• Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network

Keywords

adolescents, attitudes, education, employment, expectation, occupational life, primary schools, public finance, satisfaction, secondary schools, social exclusion, social security

Abstract

The main themes of the Finnish Youth Survey Spring 1998 were education, changes in working life, cuts in the public sector, and social exclusion. Young people were also asked questions on their future plans, social security, and unemployment.

First, the respondents' background information was charted by asking them questions about their level of education. They were asked whether they studied at the moment, and whether they had completed a degree or qualification. Those who had were asked how they thought post-compulsory education helped young people advance in life. Their economic activity was also investigated. Those who were employed were asked about the duration and nature of their contract, and those who were unemployed were asked about the duration of unemployment and what they thought was the most important factor that had hindered or prevented them from finding a job.

Some questions probed the young people's notions of primary and lower secondary education. They were asked to grade primary and lower secondary education based on their own experiences and to tell how they thought compulsory education helped young people in different areas (e.g. common knowledge, skills needed in working life or in public participation). The most important skills provided by primary and lower secondary education were also charted.

Further questions canvassed working life and finding a job. The respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on whether education significantly improved one's chances of getting a job, whether unemployment was exaggerated in Finland, and whether they were willing to accept a lower standard of living to improve employment situation. They also evaluated their own employment situation in the next five years. In addition, the young people assessed the probability of having to change occupation during their careers. Opinions on citizen wage (i.e. basic income unconditionally paid to all citizens) and the minimum monthly income needed to support oneself were queried, as well as on the most important thing in a job (for instance wage, nature of work, or relationships formed through work).

Views were probed on cuts in public expenditure. The respondents were asked how much should be cut for example from health care, unemployment benefits, farming subsidies, and support for families with children, in case the Finnish economy weakened.

Young people's notions of social exclusion were examined. Half of the respondents were asked to what extent social exclusion is caused by for example lack of education, lack of friends, bad way of life, and own laziness or indifference.

Finally, the respondents' satisfaction with their financial situation and life in general was studied.

Background variables included the respondent's age, gender, province of residence, municipality of residence, and economic activity.