Os significados do trabalho para jovens nem-nem e suas estratégias de inserção no mercado de trabalho

Abstract

Young people are one of the groups most affected by the labor market transformations, as they are more susceptible to unemployment situations. In parallel with youth unemployment, another phenomenon has increased in recent years: NEET young people. They are not in education, employment, or training. These characteristics are a cause for concern among government organizations, and have raised questions about the importance and meaning of work for young NEETs. In order to understand the factors associated with this condition, and the reasons these young people stay in this condition, the objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between the meaning of work and the job search behaviors for young NEETs. Specifically, this research intends to identify the centrality of work for this group; identify what personal and social characteristics are related to the meaning of work and to job search behaviors; and investigate the reasons that young people remain in such conditions, and their future prospects. This is a quantitative study with mixed methods incorporated. In total, 224 people participated, with ages between 18 and 24 years. They answered a personal and social questionnaire, an ESAT-BR, items about the centrality of work and job search intensity, and two open questions. The results demonstrated a relationship between the meaning of work and the job search behaviors. At the same time, the association between the personal and social variables and the constructs investigated demonstrate that other factors are related to this phenomenon, which confirm its complexity.