Austria
The German TUI Stiftung (foundation) presented the results of its European Youth Study in Berlin today. 7000 young people aged 16 to 26 years in seven European countries were surveyed. The foundation has been conducting the study since 2017.
Here is an overview of some of the main findings:
- Pessimism is on the rise: young people are increasingly negative about their own future
- The trend is pointing downwards: 52% of the 16- to 26-year-olds surveyed in Europe think they will be worse off than their parents
- The perception of inequality is increasing – 74% see large differences between social classes, especially in income, housing, assets and career opportunities
- Anchor of stability? Confidence in EU institutions remains high
Thomas Ellerbeck is Chairman of the TUI Foundation and comments on the results as follows: "Young people live in, for and with Europe. This is good news from this year's TUI Stiftung Youth Survey. 59 percent of those surveyed see their own identity as more European than national. Young people also want the countries of their continent to further integrate, 43 percent wish for deeper integration. The results also show that times are challenging for young people. The optimism about the future of the 16- to 26-year-olds surveyed, which the study has been able to prove time and again in recent years despite numerous crises, is coming under increasing pressure. The perceived economic situation contributes to this."
For the first time, a survey representative of the population as a whole was conducted for Germany in parallel for selected questions. The comparison of these two groups – the overall population and young people in Germany – allows exciting insights into current issues. For example, 40% of young people in Germany believe that sit-in blockades or the blockade of infrastructure are justified in order to exert political influence and to publicly express one's own point of view. In the population as a whole, the figure is only 24 per cent. In both groups, disapproval is stronger than approval (44 per cent among 16-26 year olds, 63 per cent in the total population). It should not be overlooked that – and this is also shown by the current youth study – elections continue to enjoy broad support among young people as a means of expressing of their opinion. 73 per cent agree with the statement that voting is a "civic duty". 57 percent see them as an effective means of changing things in their country.
Another result of the youth study: young people in Europe see access to education as the most important prerequisite for being successful in life. Elke Hlawatschek, Executive Director of the TUI Foundation, comments: "Across all countries, just five percent rate the education system in their country as 'very good', another third as 'rather good'. On the one hand, there is a social consensus that education is the best way to lead a self-determined, fulfilled life. On the other hand, those who are supposed to benefit from the education system give it a miserable report card. Not even half of young Europeans – namely only 38 percent – see equal educational opportunities for all. So the start of adult life often begins with a strong sense of injustice. Educational justice therefore belongs on the priority list of the political agenda."
On the website of the TUI Foundation you can find the complete study as well as a brochure with a contribution by the Berlin political scientist Thorsten Faas from the FU Berlin.
