The Future of Work: European youth "optimistic, but realistic"

JobTeaser, the leader in talent orientation and recruitment in Europe, and WISE, the global innovation summit for education, present the results of their major study on the Future of Work. The study conducted by Ipsos on a panel of 3,000 people in five European countries sheds light on the issues and aspirations of young Europeans, education professionals and companies that will make the job market in the years to come.

"This study confirms the need for support and orientation of the new generation in the face of a world of work in strong transformation. It is crucial to create a dynamic ecosystem where young Europeans, recruiters and higher education institutions can better exchange and collaborate. That's the meaning of our commitment at JobTeaser."

Adrien Ledoux, Co-founder and CEO of JobTeaser

Optimistic but realistic, young people are looking for mobility

According to the Ipsos study published in partnership with JobTeaser, the majority of young Europeans surveyed are optimistic about the future of work. This optimism is accompanied by a certain realism regarding the gloomy European economic situation. This is why many young people rely on mobility to find their first job.

78% of young people surveyed say they are optimistic  about the world of work tomorrow. They explain this optimism by the rise of technological progress  that allows a more efficient and serene work (82%).

Even optimistic, young Europeans are aware of the current labor market situation in Europe . This acceptance of reality motivates them to  expand their research circle geographically  to find a job or even to carry out professional experiences. Thus,  85% of young people say they are mobile . This mobility is for them the key to finding a first job that meet their expectations: that they are above all a satisfactory salary then a balance between professional and personal life and career prospects, as well as the search for meaning. The French (53%) and the Spaniards (60%) are the most likely to change countries to find a job.

Accompaniment: the key to a successful orientation for 88% of young people surveyed

The study shows that young Europeans do not consider themselves ready to join professional life as soon as they finish their studies. Thus,  less than 1 in 2 young people say they are ready to apply for a job offer  once their last study cycle is over. This fear of unpreparedness is explained by the lack of support during the orientation phase, since  88% of young Europeans would like to be better accompanied in their orientation.

This lack of preparation for the realities of professional life is also perceived by recruiters.  28% of them believe that the training provided during the course of study does not provide the knowledge needed to perform the job chosen by the student .

This fear  about the first steps in the workforce  may be , according to the young people interviewed, attenuated or even completely combated with simple measures such as  integrating work experience in the curriculum, career advice and scenarios. It is even 97% of young people surveyed who consider that professional experience is "essential or important" to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. The young French are almost unanimous on this point, being that 70% consider the professional experiences as indispensable in their training course.

The need for young people to carry out professional experiences is also approved by the majority of recruiters and educational leaders.

Soft skills do not replace a degree but are becoming more and more important

According to the Ipsos study,  hard skills  or skills recognized by graduation remain essential for recruiters. For 59% of young people, recruiters give too much importance to the degree and do not pay enough attention to their related skills. And the recruiters are far from contradicting them, since 77% consider that they give too much importance to diplomas, and 83% consider that they do not give enough importance to soft skills or relational skills.

However, the study highlights a change of trend since 96% of recruiters state that the personality of a candidate, his ability to interact as a team, his interests, etc, become essential elements to stand out in a job interview. In 25% of surveyed recruiters, these skills are even "read to be as important as hard skills."

Among the skills cited, flexibility, adaptability and ability to train are the winning trio to remain efficient according to recruiters.

Strengthening the dialogue and cooperation between the actors of the sector has become essential

Lastly, the study shows a lack of dialogue between the three players in education, namely students, companies and higher education institutions. Indeed, if the 3 actors agree that  current training courses do not sufficiently prepare young graduates for entry into the labor market  (this is the case for 51% of young people, 50% of actors in the labor market ). education and even 77% of recruiters), the answer to be given differs from one actor to another.

There is a disagreement between the different actors on the most important subjects to be taught. For example, young people underestimate the importance of ethics when companies and institutions of higher education consider this subject important for professional life. Similarly, flexibility and adaptability are underestimated by youth as they are cited as essential skills in the next 10 years.

A change is possible and even desired. Thus, 9 out of 10 recruiters would like to be involved in the way institutions are preparing for future work, future professional life. However, for the moment only 5 out of 10 recruiters actually have the opportunity to get involved.

An adaptation of training within the company could be a way of thinking to allow young people to acquire new skills from their first job. The study demonstrates a lack of coherence between the skills required and the training solutions implemented. For example, only 36% of employers offer language training sessions even though the ability to speak several languages ​​has become an essential skill in order to properly approach one's professional life.

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