Third ISA Forum of Sociology «The Futures We Want: Global Sociology and the Struggles for a Better World», Vienna, Austria

School Graduates' Attitudes Towards Education and Labor Market in Russia

Tuesday, 12 July 2016: 16:16 Location: Hörsaal 47 (Main Building)

Oral Presentation

Ekaterina POPOVA, Institute of Sociology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

One of the most important resources of innovational development of our society is motivation of young people to education, their intentions to continue it and their attitudes towards profession. Results that are going to be reported are based on the materials of the project “Education, labor market and social behavior of youth in modern economic situation”^[1], where multistage combined sample was used. The survey was conducted in the nine federal regions of the Russian Federation.

The data about the kinds of education that young people consider essential to be successful in life, what level of education they prefer; what motives drive them in choosing this level of education and future profession is described. School graduates’ attitude towards the world of professions: the prestige, social significance and profitability of the different occupations are discussed and the ratio of estimates on these criteria is analyzed. The results of the study of future profession choices of young people leaving school and motives of such choices are also described. No decision about the future is significant for quite a large part of school graduates. In conclusion, attention is drawn to the importance of targeting young people to receive higher education. Mass aspirations to a high level of education get great value in today's world.

[1] The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project №14-18-01985, “Education, labor market and social behavior of youth in modern economic situation”) and implemented by the Institute of Sociology of Russian Academy of Sciences.