Analysis and Assessment of the ‘Working Poor’ Phenomenon among Young People in the European Union

Katarzyna Beata Cymbranowicz

doi:10.18778/0208-6018.348.05

Authors

Katarzyna Beata Cymbranowicz Cracow University of Economics, College of Economics, Finance and Law, Institute of Economics Department of European Studies and Economic Integration https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8943-868X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-6018.348.05

Keywords:

working poor, labor market, work, poverty, European Union

Abstract

The article discusses the ‘working poor’ phenomenon among young people. This phenomenon is associated with the labor market on the one hand and poverty on the other. It is an interesting object of study, because currently more and more people are threatened by poverty in the European Union, even though they are included in the basic social institution, which is the labor market. The aim of this study was to show the relationship between the work and the problem of poverty in the context of the working poor phenomenon, and the analysis and evaluation focused on determining the level and structure of the working poor among young people in the European Union. The situation of working poor can be presented thanks to the results of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. This study aims to collect current and comparable data on the distribution of income and social integration at the transnational level in the EU, including: income and living conditions, poverty and social exclusion, education, professional activity and health, as well as childcare and housing conditions. Unfortunately, the EU‑SILC study (although regularly implemented) is not always a complete source of data, because every year other aspects of socio‑economic life are explored. Nevertheless, the information obtained from the Eurostat database and EU‑SILC studies, makes it possible to carry out comparable statistical analyzes, in this case for the working poor group. Based on the statistical analysis and assessment of the situation of young people included in the working poor group in the EU, based on Eurostat database and EU‑SILC studies, it can be stated that the problem of poor and poverty exist among them. It undermines the view that employment is a factor that counteracts poverty and that full employment is the best remedy for poverty and social exclusion.

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Author Biography

Katarzyna Beata Cymbranowicz, Cracow University of Economics, College of Economics, Finance and Law, Institute of Economics Department of European Studies and Economic Integration

mgr Katarzyna Cymbranowicz – graduate of bachelor and master studies in the field of European Studies at the Faculty of Economics and International Relations at the Cracow University of Economics. Assistant in the Department of European Economic Integration at the Faculty of Economics and International Relations at the Cracow University of Economics. Co-author of numerous scientific publications devoted to the issues of European integration, including among others: “Analysis and evaluation of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union” (Cracow 2013), “Crisis in the Union or Union in Crisis?” (Cracow 2013), “Knowledge – Economy – Society: Global and Regional Challenges of the 21^st Century Economy” (Cracow 2013), “Knowledge – Economy – Society: Contemporary Tools of Organizational Resources Management” (Cracow 2014), “Crisis in the Union orUnion in Crisis? Directions for discussion on the future of European integration” (Warsaw 2014), “Knowledge – Economy – Society: Challenges and Development Trends of Modern Economy, Finance and Information Technology” (Cracow 2015), “New Member States in the European Union – Diagnosis and Perspectives” (Warsaw 2015), “New The challenges of European integration” (Warsaw 2016). The conducted research work is concerned with the issues of European integration in the economic and social context of the labor market (especially the phenomenon of work and poverty, such as precariat, working poor, underemployment), employment policy and education policy (especially in the area of higher education).

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