Pretoria - Location, proximity to family and the notion of “comfort zones” play a major role in youth employment trends in the United Kingdom.
This is according to Professor Anne Green from the University of Warwick in the UK.
Green presented research to delegates from the the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in Pretoria on Friday on the importance of social-spatial influences shaping young people's employment aspirations.
The research was in reference to three British cities. The evidence presented by Green showed realities of the labour market trends within cities and the ability of youth aged 15-25 to look for opportunities outside of geographical and family comfort zones.
“Place and identity are powerfully connected. This may result in some young people not considering opportunities beyond their immediate locality or which differ from those concentrically followed by local people.”
Green also said family and friends played a big role in decision making and ambition levels of many of the youth that were interviewed.
“Family and friends may play a more important role in shaping behaviour than formal services. Friends and families are also thought to be important in shaping attitudes and aspirations.”
The findings also draw on the need for quality local jobs particularly for the disadvantaged and those with poor skills. The people that fall within this sphere are less prone to leaving home and prefer to stay rooted in local communities. People were also less willing to leave home for low pay despite greater career trajectory in the long term.
Green believes transportation plays a major role in South Africa's youth employment trends which sometimes force people to look for work closer to home.
The findings show that an efficient public transportation system plays a major role in the movement of people outside of small communities.
“How far people are prepared to travel to work also added to young people's employment aspirations. Because of development in transport technology in the UK they can travel further. It is easy and accessible. The majority of commuting journeys to work is very short. But we do see that if it easy it the youth will go to work. Where it is further or more expensive to go to work, local community jobs will take preference,” said Green.
While she didn’t draw on any parallels between South Africa and the UK, Green said her studies reveal youth have a strong “place attachment” to their local communities which ultimately impacts job aspirations.
@heidigiokos
Labour Bureau