The presumption that there is a “problem” with youth is nothing new; even Ancient Greeks were concerned about their offspring. As a quote attributed to Hesiod reads, “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words.”
Therefore, it should not surprise us that older people turn to new generations with criticism and lack of understanding, just as the young are doubtless often baffled by their elders. The study of miscommunication affecting intergenerational cooperation is an important area in itself.
It is no coincidence that a number of publications have been published on the subject of intergenerational cooperation and that a significant range of consultancy activities also relate to intergenerational dialogue, particularly in the field of HR.
However, the subject of this article is not the criticism or judgment of the other generation, but self-reflection. The Hungarian large-sample youth survey, conducted every four years since the turn of the millennium, uses a representative sample of 8,000 people to examine the living situation and lifestyle of 15-29-year-olds. In the course of the survey, we regularly address the perception of problems, asking young people to answer the following question: “What do you think is the most pressing problem of youth in Hungary today?”
The problem map compiled based on the answers also allows the analysis of trends, showing how the problems perceived by young people have developed. Reviewing the problem maps of the last decade, we can see that both the weight and the order of the problems named (marked) by young people have changed.
With the exception of financial difficulties, clearly identifiable, specific problems have been pushed into the background by more difficult-to-identify, more volatile problems.
According to the data for 2008, the biggest problems of the generation were unemployment and employment difficulties, which in 2012 were ranked only in the third place by young people.
Unemployment was among the top five problems, but since 2016 it has been replaced by uncertainty and the unpredictable future, which was only ranked third in 2008. Similarly, the weight of aimlessness among generational problems has grown, progressing two places during the past decade. Both uncertainty and aimlessness have roughly doubled in gravity. Twice as many (10 vs. 23 percent) mentioned uncertainty in 2020 as in 2008, and an almost twofold increase in aimlessness (7 vs. 12 percent) was also observed.
Certain issues carry a constant weight for young people. These include financial difficulties, appearing in first or second place (in second place in 2020) on the problem map of young people throughout the past decade. Similarly, the proliferation of drugs and alcohol is a persistent problem, ranking at the bottom end of the leading five problems.
In 2020, one of the most important factors on the problem map was the lack of groups of friends and communities, unprecedentedly appearing in fourth place (mentioned by 8 percent of respondents.)
In summary, the most pressing problems according to young Hungarians aged 15-29 are the following: 1. uncertainty, an unpredictable future; 2. financial difficulties, impoverishment, poverty; 3. aimlessness, precariousness; 4. lack of groups of friends and communities; 5. proliferation of drugs, narcotics, alcohol. Changes in the problem map show, on the one hand, expanding labor market opportunities; on the other hand, they draw attention to the availability of adequate living conditions. Consequently, young people’s attention has shifted to higher levels of the hierarchy of needs, including safety, social life, and self-fulfillment.
