15 years old in 1992, more than 30 today. On a 15-years development of educational and professional transition in post-compulsory education

Abstract

1471 students leaving compulsory school in 1992 (50 percent form lower secondary schoools) have participated in a longitudinal study that lasted 15 years until 2007. One main objective of the study was to identify and document logics and strategies of vocational choice and career entry. In addition, the study captured individual developments related to educational and vocational environments. The study design facilitated an intense and sustainable processing of the data as well as of the study’s topics (education, work, values, cultural issues, socio-demographic effects, level of satisfaction etc.). The longitudinal study revealed comprehensive data and information that yielded in several publications.The study highlights that today’s 30 years old young adults are predominantly satisfied with their lives, that they feel to have received a good education and that they are integrated into the world of employment. Crucial values for them are good relations to their family and to friends, leisure activities and their work. They also state to trust in the work of teachers, scientists and the police, a little less in the work of churches, political parties and politicians.
The data demonstrates an image of a generation with mostly non-linear and disrupted individual biographies, caused by changes in education, difficulties to find a job, decrease of wage or wrong or problematic vocational choices.