70% of young people work and 32% combine work and studies in Brazil, says research

For Carla Chiamareli, manager of the Observatório Fundação Itaú, the percentage of young people working is a positive indicator, but there are still challenges to guarantee the productive inclusion of this population. "A positive thing is to see that 70% of young people are working. We still have a problem with the productive inclusion of youth in the country, but this is a relevant indicator given the economic scenario we are experiencing", explains the specialist. Inequality marks professional trajectory The possibility of reconciling work and study varies according to socioeconomic status. Among young people from classes A and B, 48% manage to maintain both activities. In class D/E, the percentage drops to 16%. The difference also appears in the racial profile: 38% of young white people combine work and study, compared to 29% of black people. For Chiamareli, income inequality is one of the main highlights of the survey. "One of the things that caught my attention the most in this study was income inequality. It appears very strongly in several research indicators, even more so than in other sections", he states. As income decreases, the need to focus exclusively on work increases: in Class A/B, only 28% of young people only work, a number that rises to 39% in Class C and reaches 47% in Class D/E. Inequality also appears in education. According to the survey, 88% of young people currently consider it necessary to study more to get a good job, while 85% consider a diploma to be important for their professional career. Furthermore, 91% see technical and professional courses as a quick way to enter the job market. We have a significant number of young people at university, but there is still a huge difference between social classes. This shows that there is an important window to strengthen public inclusion policies in higher education. In addition to working and studying, half of those interviewed say they are responsible for taking care of the home. The burden is greater among women: 60% of them perform domestic tasks, compared to 40% of men. Caring for children, the elderly or other people also falls more heavily on women: 28% of them perform this type of activity, compared to 14% of men. "This youth is a youth of fighters. They need to study, work and, often, also take care of their family, parents, children or other people", says Chiamareli. For her, the data shows that care responsibilities continue to be unevenly distributed. "The research brought a very clear picture of social inequalities. Care responsibilities still fall mainly on women and the most vulnerable young people." Panorama of young people in the Brazilian job market Arte g1 Lack of experience is the main barrier The search for an opportunity is also a difficulty for many young people. Of the total respondents, 61% say they have looked for a job in the last year, and 20% are currently looking for work. The lack of professional experience is identified as the main obstacle to obtaining a position, cited by 49% of respondents. Next comes competition for vacancies (39%), difficulties in getting to work (28%) and lack of qualifications (25%). Personal connections also matter when entering the market. The family is cited by 46% of young people as the main source of professional guidance, followed by friends and acquaintances, with 40%. Among those who work or have worked, 77% say they have gotten a job through referral at least once. Practical experience is also valued. Nine out of ten young people say they learn more in practice than by studying, and 91% consider technical and professional courses a quick way to enter the market. Furthermore, 60% argue that employment support programs should offer practical activities, and not just theoretical content. For Chiamareli, the results show the need to bring young people's training closer to market demands. "Young people are seeing much more meaning in practice and in the world of work than in the traditional educational process. This makes us reflect on what curriculum schools and universities are offering", says the expert. She defends greater integration between the two areas: "The country lacks a more articulated policy between education and work. We need to bring the training of young people closer to real learning situations and the professional world", she adds. Formal work today, autonomy in the future Although salary is the main factor considered when choosing a vacancy, cited by 64% of those interviewed, the quality of the work environment also matters. Furthermore, 62% say they would accept earning less to work in a place with less pressure and stress. Expectations regarding the type of work also change when young people plan their future. Currently, 30% say they want a job with a formal contract. When they think about the next five years, this percentage drops to 16%.