Suchergebnisse

Sprawozdanie z działalności Instytutu Socjologii w roku 2019

The article describes the phenomenon of NEETs (young people not in employment, education or training) in the European labour market. The focus of the article is on the presentation of Eurostat statistical data. It shows the dynamics of change in the population share of young people meeting all of the three conditions: they are not gainfully employed, enrolled at any kind of education institution, and do not gain work experience as trainees or interns. Available quantitative data shows the scale of this unfavourable social phenomenon in the years 2006—2015 within the area of the European Union. The scale of the NEETs phenomenon was visible before, during, and after the recent economic crisis. Due to the lack of unambiguous defining framework — referring to the age limits of persons included in the NEETs category — the scale of this phenomenon, based on Eurostat's analyses, was presented in reference to broader perspective: 15—34 years, and then among people aged 18—24. Not only does the article indicate a number of adverse consequences of this phenomenon, but also delineates recommendations whose implementation could contribute to curbing it.

The goal of the paper is to show the problem of workers' pauperisation on contemporary labour market in Poland while comparing selected aspects of this phenomenon with the situation on the European Union labour market. Results of European research (EU-SILC survey) concerning the living conditions of the population were used for this purpose It appears that the highest rates of risk of poverty among working population aged 18–64 are reported in Romania, Greece and Spain. On the other hand, this phenomenon is observed in the least degree in the Czech Republic, Finland and Belgium. In Poland, the share of in-work population at risk of poverty in 2014 was on the level of 10.7%, and was slightly higher than EU-mean that reached 9.6%. Results of empirical data generally show similar determinants that affect higher probability of occurrence of the problem both on national, as well as on the European Union labour market, including low level of worker's education, provision of work based on flexible contracts, short job seniority and low labour intensity in household.

The goal of the paper is to show the problem of workers' pauperisation on contemporary labour market in Poland while comparing selected aspects of this phenomenon with the situation on the European Union labour market. Results of European research (EU-SILC survey) concerning the living conditions of the population were used for this purpose It appears that the highest rates of risk of poverty among working population aged 18-64 are reported in Romania, Greece and Spain. On the other hand, this phenomenon is observed in the least degree in the Czech Republic, Finland and Belgium. In Poland, the share of in-work population at risk of poverty in 2014 was on the level of 10.7%, and was slightly higher than EU-mean that reached 9.6%. Results of empirical data generally show similar determinants that affect higher probability of occurrence of the problem both on national, as well as on the European Union labour market, including low level of worker's education, provision of work based on flexible contracts, short job seniority and low labour intensity in household.

This article addresses the issue of the role and importance of the young precariat for the functioning of the democratic system. Based on scenario planning, it presents three possible directions for the development of democracy in the context of meeting the needs of the young precariat. The first scenario assumes a continuation of the measures applied so far by democratic governments towards young precarious people related to social policy and the low representation of the young generation in politics. The second involves a move away from democracy towards non-democratic systems, where the needs of precarious people are irrelevant. The third assumes a new approach among democratic governments to the needs of young precarious workers and the shaping of new social policies, as well as the creation of incentives for young precarious workers to be more widely involved in these policies. The empirical context for these considerations is an attempt to determine the possibility of the occurrence of each of these scenarios in Polish conditions, based on the results of qualitative studies conducted via asynchronous interviews with representatives of the young Polish precariat. The research relates to Poland and takes into account the characteristics of the Polish precariat. The article uses a mixed research methodology, combining different methods for solving research problems, including collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting quantitative and qualitative data.

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Purpose: The cognitive purpose of this article is to define the specificity of the Polish precariat and their needs, as well as the degree to which they are realised in the context of the current policy that supports employment as well as the social policy of the Polish government. Its utilitarian purpose is to define a set of actions that may be undertaken by governments to meet the needs of the precariat and to reduce the size of this social group. Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to determine to what extent the current government in Poland meets the needs of the precariat, a questionnaire was devised and delivered via the Internet to a research panel of respondents. The study used a stratified-quota sample selection, corresponding to the proportions of people in Poland working on various fixed-term contracts or as self-employed. 1,000 respondents who work with flexible forms of employment participated in the study. The research was carried out at the end of March/ beginning of April 2021. The basis for determining the main types of needs felt by the Polish precariat was shaped by sociological research in this area conducted in Poland. Practical Implications: Taking into account the opinions of the Polish precariat, one should consider the need for governments (including the Polish government) to create tools for effective communication with members of the precariat. One potential solution to this problem may be the creation of a government portal that provides an accessible means of discovering the available tools and programs that promote employment, including the conditions for their eligibility, and offer know-how on entrepreneurship. A practical solution presented in this study is also a new approach to subsidies granted by employment offices to start one's first business, a form of support that incorporates the possibility that members of the precariat might participate in businesses run within franchising networks. Originality/Value: In terms of value, this study aims to enrich knowledge about the precariat, their needs and life aspirations. It also provides suggestions on action that can be taken by governments and their agendas to scale back this phenomenon.

Unfinished restructuring of the mining industry can be a source of social instability in the Silesian voivodeship in the coming years. Decreasing demand for coal, wider use of alternative energy sources, cheaper import of raw materials from Ukraine or Russia will lead to redundancies in this sector of economy. Moreover, the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol of which Poland is one of signatories, force Polish government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are produced during the coal combustion. This is another factor that may significantly affect the reduction of employment in the mining sector. Another danger facing the regional labour market is the replacement of the mining companies with the companies that represent the automotive industry. As a result a new monoculture is appearing on the local market of the Silesian voivodeship now. This industry is, as the recent economic crisis has showed, particularly exposed to economic fluctuations which lead to the structural unemployment. Therefore authorities should try to diversify the structure of the regional economy by new investments and not to allow to concentrate companies from the same sector on a small area. The Silesian voivodeship needs more jobs in the service and high technology sectors which would limit the migration of young, well-educated people. In the case of South Wales the share of these sectors in its economy is greater than in the case of the Silesian voivodeship. Despite this a large percentage of native inhabitants of South Wales decide to emigrate but at the same new ones from other parts of Wales and different parts of the UK come and settle down. This explains the positive net migration, as well as the positive natural increase. Despite this and despite the fact that the impact of the economic crisis on Wales was so drastic the increase in the unemployment rate during the crisis period was smaller in South Wales than in the Silesian voivodeship. This can be explained not only by more multicultural structure of its economy but also by the differences as far as the number of young people at the age of 15−24 who are economically active and the number of people working at part-time jobs is concerned. The labour markets of both of these regions have experienced negative consequences of the economic crisis, but in the case of South Wales unless the influx of new population had not been so significant these consequences would probably have been less severe. However, further research in this field is required.