Different generations, different reasons
for the unemployment and ways out of it
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
We want to focus on the unemployment issue as seen
from the point of view of three subsequent generations:
1. Our parents born in the 1950s;
2. People born in the 1960s; and
3. Us born in the 1970s.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
People aged 50+. Born, grew up and
worked in times when the communism
flourished in Poland.
The obligation to work.
Little incentive to improve productivity.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
1989, system transformation, collapse
of communism in Poland.
Enterprises getting rid of the excess
workers.
1990, more than a million Poles jobless.
Unemployment in Poland
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
Today the unemployment in Poland
is chronic and massive.
80% of the unemployed are young
people who, after graduation from
vocational schools, academic
schools or even the universities
cannot find work.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
People aged 50 and more lack the
combined basic skills which results
in the inability to find a job.
Projects co-financed by the state
and EU focus on upgrading skills
and career transition.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
“Be Better at Start”, a project dedicated to
the unemployed women aged 50+.
The importance of self-assessment,
exploring career options and market
realities, goal setting, job search
methods, career management.
SWOT analysis. It is a strategic planning
method used to evaluate Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
involved in a project or in a business
venture.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
The project was a big success and
that is the path that should be followed
when motivating mature workers in
a process of job transition.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
People born in the 1960s and their motives for studying:
Broadening their horizons;
Having fun;
Fighting against the communist
government; and in case of men
Trying to avoid obligatory military
service.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
People born in the 1960s found themselves in quite
comfortable situation.
They graduated in late 1980s with historic changes taking place
In Europe.
First partially free and democratic
elections in Poland (June 1989);
Fall of the Berlin Wall (November 9th,
1989);
Dissolution of the Soviet Union into
independent nations (1988 – 1991)
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
Poland became attractive place for foreign companies and investors
and so around 1990 many companies started to locate their
branches here, including the so called Big Four:
PriceWaterhouseCooper,
Ernst&Young,
Deloitte
KMPG
This generation started to make big money and live an “American Dream”
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
The generation that came after was in significantly less favorable
situation. It was our generation, born in the 1970s.
After high school we still believed that with an university diploma we can rule the
corporate world. Our educational paths were chosen primarily according
to our interests and not the realistic needs of the ever changing markets.
Basically one could divide our generation into two groups:
Those still mainly interested in living their students’ lives to the fullest
Those already starting to think about their future
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
Me, myself and I as the first group representative.
I chose my faculty quite unknowingly, thinking that major in International relations
offers me a great future. My main focus during 5 years of the university education
was on:
Having fun
Networking
Travelling
I had absolutely no interest in thinking about my adult career.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
Beginning of the 21st century in Poland and looking
for a job.
Was it hard to find a decent job?
I guess.
I might have been so full of
myself that I thought looking
for a job was a piece of cake.
I found my “dream” job quite
painlessly.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
And then one lousy, November day I got fired. It came
out of nowhere, without any warning.
Having work is actually hard
work
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
I decided it was time to think of plan B.
What would be a thorough
and reasonable plan?
And now I know there always
needs to be plan B in life.
Different generations, different reasons for the unemployment and ways out of it
THANK YOU