“DNB Latvian barometer”: is it easier or more difficult for young people in Latvia to find work than on average in the European Union?

The latest results of the “DNB Latvian barometer” study show whether it is easier or more difficult for young people to find jobs in Latvia than on average in the European Union (EU) Member States, most of the population have been critical – 61% believes that the work is more difficult to find. The fact that the situation in Latvia is similar to THE EU was recognised BY 26%, but the fact that the work of young people is easier to find was only 5%. It is true that Eurostat data show that unemployment rates among young people are lower (15.81 TP1T) than on average IN THE EU (20.71 TP1T) or in the euro area (22.51 TP1T). When comparing Latvia's situation with other Baltic States, the unemployment rate in Latvia is higher than in Estonia (10.11 TP1T) but lower than in Lithuania (17.41 TP1T).

IN the Baltic States, the DNB Bank's Head of Administration in the Baltic States, Vice-President Dace, notes: “despite the pessimistic assessment of the people seen in the study of the opportunity for young people to find work, i think that many representatives of businesses will agree that there is a very different scene in the labour market today - the unemployment rate in Riga has reached such a low level that we are beginning to feel the characteristics of pre-crisis years. Companies are increasingly looking for approaches to attract potential employees. Young people with serious attitudes to the work to be carried out in Latvia have all the opportunities to prove themselves and work in positions that provide an opportunity to develop and make the basis for further career development."

The head of the education and Prakse.lv portal Janis Logins adds: “I believe that people are being treated more psychologically in the above-mentioned issue, as unemployment rates in South Europe are much higher than in Latvia. For young people who are willing to learn, prove themselves and achieve results that have also acquired education or experience, work can be found - even in large and medium-sized enterprises. '

Asked about the main obstacles that prevent young people from finding work, the most frequently surveyed pointed to employers' reluctance to recruit people without experience (59%). Meanwhile, almost half or 47% of respondents believe that young people don't want to work on the wages offered, but 39% is convinced that the profession acquired by young people does not meet labour market demand. It should be noted that a little more than a third of respondents have noted, as one of the main reasons, that there is a lack of jobs in the country (33%). Interestingly, almost every tenth of respondents believe that young people don't want to work (11%).

While commenting on these data, CV-Online Latvia manager Aivis Brodiņš states: “It is undoubtedly both professional training institutions and universities that have to offer dual education, which gives the opportunity to start working in their speciality soon after the start of learning, contributing to the acquisition of such very necessary first work experience. There are currently positive developments in this respect, as more and more companies are cooperating with training institutions in the preparation of appropriate new staff. '

Asked what solutions could be to reduce youth unemployment, respondents most often supported the matching of educational programmes to the labour market (49%) and state-subsidised labour practices so that young people can get their work experience (48%). Meanwhile, other solutions are mentioned much less frequently.

By describing the most important criteria for the employer, deciding which of the applicants to be recruited is most often among the most important respondents in the relevant field, in office (64%). In the meantime, other criteria have been surveyed relatively less – 42% surveyed the applicant's skills, skills, 41% - feedback from previous jobs, while 40% - acquired education. It is interesting that the knowledge of Latvian (22%) and Russian (11%) is recognised less frequently than other knowledge of English, German - foreign languages (35%).

In analysing the change of view of the population in this issue over four years, it should be concluded that this year less than in 2011, there is a recognised age (2011: 40%; 2015: 28%), education (2011: 49%; 2015: 40%) and Latvian language knowledge (2011: 29%). This year more than 2011, the most important criteria are the feedback from previous jobs (2011: 34%; 2015: 41%), applicant's attitudes (2011: 25%; 2015: 32%) and other foreign languages (e.g. English, German) (2011: 31%; 2015: 35%). It should be noted that the most popular responses – the frequency of work experience – have not changed (2011: 64%; 2015: 64%).

When thinking about things that are the most important thing that the education system needs to provide to a person in order to be able to enter the labour market, the surveyed most often mentioned theoretical and practical knowledge (67%) and the ability to think and solve problems independently (59%). Relatively uncommon surveyed noted the skills to work in the team (40%) and the ability to think analytical and creative (38%).

When comparing how the views of the population have changed over two years, it must be concluded that the responses are broadly similar, for example, in 2013, theoretical and practical knowledge has been recognised as the most important thing to be provided by the education system to human beings (2013: 68%, 2015: 67%). It is true that this year, the ability to think independently and to address the problems has been noted somewhat uncommon (2013: 63%, 2015: 59%). Comparatively large differences are also observed with regard to the ability to think analytical and creative – if IN 2013 it was considered as a major case BY 46%, then in 2015, much less - 38% poll.

On the other hand, when assessing the quality of individual levels of education at a five-point scale, the population gave the highest rating to higher education (average score of 3.51). In the meantime, the education of general educational institutions (3.33) and the quality of education provided by vocational schools and vocational technical schools (3.32) have been evaluated more critically. No significant changes have been observed this year compared to the 2014 results in this matter.

Meanwhile, when assessing the quality of education in Latvia, a relatively large number of respondents have noted that it has neither improved nor worsened in recent years (44%). 25% considers that the quality of education in Latvia has deteriorated as a whole, but its improvement has been indicated BY 18% survey. In addition, compared to 2013, the respondents have seen more frequently that the quality of education has improved (2014: 16%; 2015: 18%) but slightly less – that there is worsening (2014: 26%; 2015: 25%). It has been noted that the quality of education has neither improved nor worsened (2014: 40%, 2015: 44%).

The survey also asked to celebrate which are the most urgent problems in Latvian schools. Most respondents have pointed out the lack of discipline among pupils (57%). There has been a relatively frequent survey of the lack of good teachers (42%) and low teacher salaries (33%). It should be noted that there is also a lack of learning quality (29%) and poor material technical support (29%). In the meantime, compared to 2014, the most urgent problems have been considered by the respondents to be poor material technical security (2014: 25%; 2015: 29%; 2015: 18%; 2015: 23%), insufficient parental participation (2014: 14%; 2015: 21%) and too large classes (2014: 12%; 2015: 17%).

Finally, in assessing how the new education and science education model developed by the Ministry of Education and Science will affect the quality of education in schools, THE 42% survey did not have a specific opinion on this issue. The fact that the new pay model of teachers will improve the quality of education in schools has been marked BY 16% survey, but only 7% survey is indicated on worsening. Meanwhile, more than a third of respondents consider that the quality of education in schools will not be affected (35%).

For information about the results of the study, facebook.com:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/DNB-Latvijas-barometrs/383914771685013?ref=hl

“DNB Latvian barometer” is a recognised monthly sociological study that examines current developments in key areas of society. At the same time, the population is asked each time a set of permanent questions that reflect the change in the general mood of society on a monthly basis.