2024-04-05 09:23:53
BOLZANO. In times of shortage of skilled labor and brain drain, the search for qualified personnel among young people is becoming increasingly challenging. On the initiative of the “Südtiroler Jugendring”, the Economic Research Institute of the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce used an innovative approach to analyze what young South Tyroleans expect from their ideal workplace.
In the spring of 2023 they were interviewed over 2,000 young people between 14 and 30 years old. The results highlight that the working climate in the company is particularly important for the average young South Tyrolean. A third would refuse on principle a position associated with an unfavorable working climate. The level of pay is also crucial.
However, there are some significant differences among young people, which can be divided into four types: for 40 percent of those interviewed, the working climate among colleagues and with one’s superiors it is so important that it can be classified as harmony-oriented. A third, however, attaches particular importance to economic treatment and is therefore classified as compensation-oriented. 20 percent are oriented towards stability, meaning he prefers regular working hours with a permanent employment contract and often refuses seasonal work. The remaining ten percent of young people are more oriented towards careerin the sense that they above all look for jobs that offer good career and training opportunities, as well as the possibility of holding positions of responsibility.
Such knowledge allows employers to target potential employees more specifically and move beyond stereotypes. Based on these results, theimage of some professions selected in Alto Adige and the evaluations of the young people were compared with those of the experts. Both groups rated some professions equally, such as mechatronics technician and software developer calling them very attractive, unlike those of waiter/waitress. The professions of teacher e di construction worker, however, are held in low regard among young people, while they are rated as interesting by experts. Furthermore, the evaluations indicate the need to improve the framework conditions for some professions, e.g cooks it would be interesting to move from seasonal contracts to permanent contracts.
“The image of some professions does not correspond to reality, as demonstrated by the assessments of experts. Information and awareness-raising work by trade associations and youth organizations is necessary to prevent these professions from not being taken into consideration due to erroneous perceptions”, underlines the president of the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce Michl Ebner.
“The results of the study underline the importance of the working environment and remuneration as determining factors in the choice of workplace. It is necessary to optimize the framework conditions of some professions, in order to respond to the new needs of young people. Similarly, it is necessary rethink salary structures and related benefits in both the public and private sectors”, adds the provincial councilor Magdalena Amhof.
2024-04-05 09:23:53