From school to employment and from adolescence to adulthood: The place and limits of social indicators in the study of transitions in young people's lives

Abstract

Social indicators cannot be used alone in trying to understand the social exclusion among youth. Social indicators often give a rather static picture, and a limited understanding of the social processes involved. Although the statistical indicators are indispensable to the diagnosis, it is important to analyse the comparative virtues of the different explanatory frameworks intended to give an account of the exclusion processes.

This study starts with a description of the situations in which 18–25 year olds live. It is based on multidimensional surveys of living conditions carried out by INSEE in 1987 and 1994. A number of factors of vulnerability are identified at this stage: a low level of initial education, an underprivileged social background and immigrant parents.

The second part studies the integration of young people into the workforce. A review of the major youth employment trends over the last 20 years is followed by a discussion of the elements of interpretation. The effectiveness of public policies aimed to improve the integration of young people is addressed using various cohort studies.

The third part of the paper examines the links between the different stages in the passage to adult life and analyzes how the structures of the family of origin influence these transitions. The role of intergenerational family solidarity and local aid policies is also considered.