Labor values of modern youth of Almaty: realities and prospects

Abstract

The article examines the dynamics of labor values of modern Kazakhstani youth. The purpose of this article is to show the hierarchy and directions of changing the labor values of young people in the conditions of modernization of Kazakhstani societies. The scientific significance is the identification of gender characteristics of the labor values of young worship. The practical significance lies in the compilation of the hierarchy of the life values of young people.
The article is based on the results of field research conducted by the authors in Almaty (January April 2014). The study involved young people from 16 to 29 years old. Sampling  500 respondents (individual standardized interview). The youth of 7 districts of Almaty were attracted, which confirms the representativeness of the conducted research. At 95% of the correct interval, the statistical error does not exceed ± 3.1%. The information obtained during the research was processed by the computer program SPSS 17.0. The main results of the research show that for young people the values of personal character as family and health remain the main values. There are observed among the Kazakhstan youth such tendencies in relation to labor activity, as inertness, consumer and dependent mood. Representations of the Kazakhstani youth about labor values are analyzed on the basis of the criteria of the choice of the profession and employment strategy, taking into account the gender specifics. A comparative analysis of the hierarchy of life values of modern Kazakhstani youth in a gender aspect shows the desire and closeness of women to «autonomous values (selfdevelopment)», and men have the most «material values». The data show the orientation of the youth of Russia and Kazakhstan to material values as a desire to achieve high wages and financial position. Nevertheless, «interest in labor» and «labor outcomes» are important for Kazakhstani youth. The value of the conducted research is that the correlation of labor values with real motives for choosing a profession and strategies for employment of Kazakhstani youth is revealed. The results of the work can be used to write scientific works on this topic and teach special courses in the specialty «Sociology».

Key words: Kazakhstan, youth, social values, labor values, value orientations, material values, autonomous values, hybrid values.