Young Norwegians increasingly unhappy with working life

Since 2009, the Norwegian Confederation of Vocational Unions YS has published the Working Life Barometer which examines the state of the workforce. This year, there has been a special focus on the effects of the cost of living crisis.

Researchers Helge Svare and Karl Ingar Kittelsen Røberg from the Work Research Institute (AFI) at OsloMet presented the results from this year’s barometer during a seminar at the political gathering Arendalsuka.

Fearing the future

This year’s survey shows that many young people are unhappy at work, and may feel their job is not interesting.

The Working Life Barometer takes the pulse on working life in the Nordic region. This year's results were presented during a seminar at Arendalsuka. Photo: Liv Hilde Hansen, YS

For workers under 30, the results are significantly worse across several barometer indicators related to working conditions, stress and coping in 2024 compared to previous years.

• 59 per cent of those under 30 say they are happy with their job.
• 64 per cent of those under 30 say they have an interesting job.
• The feeling of being pressed for time at work has diminished, especially for young people under 30.

“Many of these results are the lowest ever since we started publishing the barometer 16 years ago,” the report authors write.

Young and vulnerable

The researchers have discovered increased concern about being excluded from the labour market. Workers also increasingly worry about their health. Over the past five years, there has been a decrease in the percentage of people who report having a low risk of poor health leading to reduced work capacity.

We are less content with our jobs than before according to the YS Working LIfe Barometre.

The barometer shows that people who have been unemployed earlier experience being at greater risk of disability, unemployment and other forms of social exclusion. Those under 30 stand out from other groups also here.

• 27 per cent of employees under 30 fear becoming incapacitated within five years.
• 28 per cent say they fear becoming unemployed.
• In 2009, 5 per cent feared becoming incapacitated, while 19 per cent feared losing their job. 

AFI researcher Karl Ingar Kittelsen Røberg calls the results dramatic, especially for the under-30s group.

“We see a trend where young people have a negative attitude to their own situation. They work more, they are pessimistic about their own health, are afraid of losing their job and are less happy with their work situation,” said AFI researcher Karl Ingar Kittelsen during the presentation of this year’s barometer. 

Struggling economically, working more

16 per cent of the respondents in the 2024 YS Working Life Barometer say they are struggling economically. 

“The cost of living crisis continues to impact households. Many are struggling economically. Only 45 per cent of the respondents consider their private economy to be good,” writes YS leader Hans-Erik Skjæggerud in the introduction to this year’s Working Life Barometer.

Many have increased their income by working overtime and extra shifts, according to the YS Working Life Barometer.

Younger workers in particular experience problems. Nearly 25 per cent of under-30s say they see their economic situation as “bad” or “very bad”. Only 6.4 per cent of the over-60s say the same.

The survey also asked what steps workers have taken to address the cost of living crisis. One in five have chosen to work more to make ends meet. Nearly one in three say they have taken on one or more extra jobs.

Alarming

YS leader Hans-Erik Skjæggerud said the results from this year’s Working Life Barometer must be taken seriously.

YS leader Hans-Erik Skjæggerud (left) and AFI researcher Karl Ingar Kittelsen Røberg. Photo: Liv Hilde Hansen, YS 

“It is not only worrying but alarming when so many – especially young people – say they are not happy at work and that they believe they are at risk of being excluded from the labour market,” he said.

Skjæggerud also pointed out that a lot of good work is being done to improve the situation, but underlined that further efforts are needed.

“If not, it will have major consequences for the Norwegian labour market, and we cannot solve the challenges we are facing. The welfare state cannot support that many people ending up on benefits,” said Skjæggerud.

He highlighted measures aimed at improving working environments, with a special focus on psycho-social issues and increased focus on health and safety. He also believes it is important to facilitate further and continuing education.