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In the dormitories and in the busses, thousands of young people can remember a year that cannot be compared to any other year for Norwegian students. This is the year the parties disappeared, tests were reversed, student budgets tightened, and teaching moved to Zoom and Teams. A generation of students who can rightly say they have been unlucky.
While thousands of young people have ditched sponsorship weeks, colloquia and weekend trips home to fight the virus, the country’s job market has changed dramatically. 50,000 are now laid off in Norway and almost 200,000 are out of work.
Kari Sollien (Photo: Øyvind Elvsborg)
Soon, all those who have spent more of their student life in the dormitory than any other generation will enter work life. From previous crises, we know that young people are hit hard when unemployment rises. We saw it internationally during the financial crisis, we saw it in various groups when the price of oil fell in 2014 and we see it now. Right now, 66,000 between the ages of 20 and 30 are unemployed.
Many have had jobs in shops, tourism and restaurants, industries that have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Additionally, there are a large number of students who have lost or been laid off from their part-time jobs. It is very difficult for young people without education.
We risk a more uncertain job market for years to come, where the path to working life for many young people may be more difficult than it has been. With a larger gap in jobs, young people are further back in line in competition with more experienced applicants. In addition, the risk of poorer wages and working conditions will increase. The more grateful you are for a job, the lower your demands.
We must do everything possible to prevent young people from becoming the biggest losers in the crown. Fortunately, history shows that Norway handles economic crises well. During the financial crisis, we had the lowest youth unemployment in Scandinavia. An important part of the reason we have been successful before, and will succeed again, is our welfare system and the close cooperation between politicians, workers ‘organizations, and employers’ organizations.
During the crown crisis, many have seen the value of organizing, even in academia. It also gives young people a voice in decisions. In times of crisis, it is even more important to have a union that supports you and can provide advice and assistance.
We are still in the midst of the crisis and it is important to work for students and recent graduates to experience safety in the here and now. For students, it is about getting an education as normal as possible, under very abnormal conditions.
We must ensure that the exams are carried out in a good and responsible way, that digital teaching meets its objectives and, above all, that we can secure the financial situation of young people. Without a part-time job, many people find themselves in a difficult situation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new crisis package for students.
It is also important to be sure of receiving support if it takes some time to complete your education until you get a job. Young people must take priority in the measures we implement.
The most important thing is what we do for the future, that is, that unemployment is not allowed to stabilize. Part of the answer is to prevent today’s sustainable businesses from ending up in a state of emergency. It will affect everyone, and especially the young.
At the same time, we must seize the opportunity provided by the crisis to readjust. Norway must invest in knowledge and education to create new businesses and jobs for the future. These include sufficient study sites and high-quality studios. Because we will need more and more people with higher education in the coming years.
A new year is coming. And now we can glimpse a normal life in the distance with the latest vaccine news. That life won’t be like it was before the crown at first, but hopefully 2021 will be a rebound. With the right grip and effort, we will get Norway back on track, without the youngsters paying a higher crown cost than others.(Terms)Copyright Dagens Næringsliv AS and / or our suppliers. We would like you to share our cases via a link, which leads directly to our pages. Copying or other use of all or part of the content can only be done with written permission or as permitted by law. For more terms, see here.
