What do young people expect from the company?

For three years, the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and Macif have been measuring the evolution of young people’s relationship to work. What is gaining momentum this year is the desire for a more engaged company.

For three years, the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and Macif have been measuring the evolution of young people’s relationship to work. What is gaining momentum this year is the desire for a more engaged company.

When we ask 18-24 year olds (employed, students, etc.) what the main role of a company is, the first answer is always “creating jobs”. But more and more of them, 41% precisely, say that it must be useful for society.

So useful how? She must first commit to the environment. This priority has not changed in three years. But the other theme that is progressing is the fight against inequalities between women and men, the fight against racism and discrimination. And the defense of purchasing power.

No greenwashing

Young people want companies to be sincere, and the best proof in their eyes is that they refuse to work with a supplier who does not respect this commitment. They don’t believe the positions and statements in the media. The values ​​advocated by the company, 18-24 year olds want to find them in their daily work life. There should not be a gap between what is said outside, and what is done inside.

What is the ideal company?

Half dream of joining a French and rather local company, close to the sea, the mountains or the countryside. The attractiveness of CAC 40 companies continues to plummet. Foreign companies are not particularly popular. Main expectations: a well-paid, useful, interesting job, but which leaves free time for their personal life. Having a position of responsibility or one that allows you to travel is not a priority. And a small paradox: the idea of ​​doing work, in line with their values, only comes in ninth position, even though they ask the company to make a social commitment.

A great desire for stability

They want to change jobs, but rather within the same company. 70% already have a real estate project, more than half a family project. They think about saving. 18-24 year olds, who have been hit hard by confinement and the health crisis, are cautious. “They demand individual freedom but in a cocoon. With a collective ideal carried by the company”, summarizes Alban Gonord, the coordinator of the study at Macif.