Career and its associated advice are crucial for the future of young people, but in the Balkans, unlike the rest of Europe, they have different counseling resources when it comes to future professions.
A survey by the European Training Foundation (ETF) found that young people who seek career advice from the internet in Albania are 45.8%, in Greece 39.5%, and Kosovo 36.2%. Advice from parents was the second largest category for career guidance, followed by friends.
Focus groups in Albania and Serbia spoke about the significant role that families play in Western Balkans culture in particular. They said that even though parents may not have all the information, they try to support them in their career choices.
The study refers to parental advice being more valuable if they are educated and employed. Many young people in Albania believe that parents can help them, but they can also hinder their freedom to choose their own career.
As parents play a significant role in their children’s careers in the Balkans, ETF suggests that parents should be informed about trends and labor market skills in their countries.
Teachers should be involved in the same way to become partners in career education for young people. In developed European countries, school is an essential element in terms of career.
The survey highlighted that an overwhelming majority of respondents in Southeast Europe (72.5%) said that, “having a profession that matches my skills and interests” is what matters most to them in their future profession. This is followed by “salary” (53.3%), then “work-life balance” (37.5%).
Participants in focus groups in Albania saw travel as favorable opportunities to balance work with personal life. Traveling as part of work would allow them to explore the world and gain new experiences. ETF emphasized that this choice of Albanian youth is a result of spending too much time on social media.
Albanian youth prefer to work remotely and have the opportunity to fulfill their passions for travel. Serbian youth also had a similar choice, where professions that provided more flexibility were more preferable.
Amid technological transformations, automation, and demographic shifts, the nature of work is changing. For many people, this change brings increased risks of unemployment, insecurity, and precarious employment. Young people are particularly affected by the current instability.
Transitioning from school to work is an increasingly critical moment with consequences for future employment, well-being, and social connection for the younger generation. Therefore, career counseling needs to move to a new stage and follow developments in the ETF summer labor market.
