Russia (bbabo.net), - Why do people go to university? It is clear: to become professionals in your favorite business. Only now life makes amendments to the dream. Applicants withstand a huge competition for the Faculty of Economics - but the majority then "shift papers" in the office. Only a quarter of environmental graduates will find work. Every fourth or fifth university student is a future "professional ballast"... Scientists from the Federal Research Sociological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences have tried to find out why this happens. On the eve of Tatyana's Day, their conclusions are not festive at all.

Back to news Some truths, unfortunately, are eternal. The cost of studying at universities is growing, but finding a good job for a young specialist is becoming increasingly difficult. And the statistics, of course, explain a lot, but not at all happy.

According to Rosstat, in 2021 there were 24.6 million representatives of intellectual labor with higher education in Russia (this is one third of the total employed population). Russian universities graduate 810.7 thousand people a year, half of them graduate full-time. Theoretically, in 30 years there should be a complete rotation of employees with higher education - the older generation retires, it is replaced by young people. But in reality, few of the "intellectual proletarians" give up work even in their venerable years. You can't explain why. Raising the retirement age is just one of the reasons.

Vacancies are in short supply, diplomas are overproduced. It also affects the fact that in recent years there have been much more faculties of a humanitarian profile in universities. It's no secret that many of them, especially in middle-class universities, are an opportunity to get the coveted "crust" with a minimum of effort and at a reasonable price. No more. Employers understand this too.

Here is the data for 2020. Among the graduates of Russian universities, almost half (44.9%) are those who studied the humanities and social sciences (economics, law, psychology, sociology, political science, journalism, tourism business, linguistics, history, philosophy, culture, etc.). Twice less (24.5%) techies - machine builders, technologists, specialists in the field of mining and extractive industry, energy, transport. IT-technologies, electronics, communications, photographic equipment are another 6.7% of graduates. In the field of education, 11.2% received diplomas, medicine and pharmacy - 5.2%, agriculture, forestry, water management and veterinary medicine - 4.1%, natural sciences - 3.4%.

About half (47%) of those who did not need a university education at work complained about difficulties in finding employment. A quarter simply decided that they made a mistake with the choice of profession and that they needed to change it. One in five did not go to work in their specialty, because they pay too little for this work. It is quite possible to understand the resentment of a philologist or historian who "gets less than a security guard in a shopping center." But market laws in the field of labor relations operate in the same way as in any other.

The majority of doctors (91%), employees of the education system (82%), IT-sphere (79%), as well as specialists in the field of transport, energy, agriculture, construction (more than three-quarters of graduates, from 76% to 78%). Everything is much more complicated in light industry (37%) or ecology (25%).

There is also a paradox. Young people find it difficult to find work, and more than a third of enterprises (37%) experience a shortage of specialists. One "but" - we are talking about experienced and strong pros. Engineers, programmers, top-level economists, medical practitioners. And university graduates simply do not pull responsible work. With brand new diplomas from economic faculties, people mostly work as accountants, simple performers.

Another common problem is the high expectations of young people. Some want to immediately get a managerial position, and a high salary, and a package of social benefits, but, alas, they clearly overestimate themselves. More than 40% of young specialists who get jobs at enterprises immediately after graduation need retraining or advanced training. This applies to such important areas as transport and energy, medicine and education, metallurgy, humanitarian and social areas, etc.Experts conclude that in order to avoid such disproportions and ensure a natural "rotation of staff", the total graduation rate from universities would have to be reduced by 20-30%. This, of course, does not happen. This means that competition in the intellectual labor market is becoming more and more intense. According to the estimates of the heads of municipal and territorial employment services, the demand for vacancies from university graduates is 3.7 times higher than the supply from employers. Graduates of colleges (former technical schools) in the labor market must withstand a competition of 2.3 people per job. But for lyceum students (formerly lyceums were called vocational schools), the demand is 2.2 times higher than the supply. Support staff vacancies are 3.4 times more than the number of those wishing to fill them. Advanced boys and girls, in turn, are not in a hurry to go there, dreaming of a more successful career or betting on a university.

Schoolchildren lack knowledge

A dream is a good thing. But it would be nice to back it up with specific knowledge and a clear plan of action. In the old days, this was helped by early career guidance - from the school bench. Now such a system, according to experts, practically does not exist.

According to surveys, schoolchildren are more or less determined with the choice of their future profession only by the end of their studies. A quarter chooses specialization by grade 9, 55% - in grades 10-11. Another 5% - immediately after graduating from a lyceum or college. 15% make this choice at the time of entering the university, some (7%) also manage to change their specialization while studying at a university, second or even fourth year. At the same time, only 7% of applicants listen to the advice of their teachers. Ten times more (70%) make the choice on their own, but take into account the advice of their loved ones. One in 20 was convinced by online and media advertising. Only half a percent made a decision after an open day at the university. In general, among young professionals, less than a third (30%) say that the school helped them choose a profession. 44% stated that no one had done such work with them.

50 percent of graduates with school knowledge would not enter the university

Bad numbers. Only half of the 11th grade graduates believe that the school gave them enough knowledge to successfully study at the university. 35% of young professionals got the missing intellectual baggage with tutors, another 15% did it themselves. According to statistics for 2020, 15% received a red diploma in Russian universities, 58% received good grades, and 27% showed average academic performance. But in the course of surveys, graduates honestly admitted that their school knowledge would be enough for them at the university only for a "four" in the Russian language, for a "solid three" in other subjects. And in chemistry, astronomy, a foreign language, economics and law - a "troika", close to "failure".

By the way, employers - contrary to common opinion - are not chasing proud holders of red diplomas and round honors at all. And they also bitterly complain about the fact that graduates send the results of the exam to universities, where there is less competition - to the white world like a pretty penny. And then they realize that they made a mistake with the choice. And if they still continue their studies, they have every chance to join the ranks of the "professional ballast". Which, according to experts, is now from 15% to 25% of students. They will go to work, but they will not put their whole soul into their business.

90 percent of applicants do not think where they will work at the time of admission

According to surveys, three-quarters (75%) of school graduates entered exactly the university departments they wanted to. 15% chose a similar specialization, 10% chose a completely different one. Most often, young people from villages, urban-type settlements and regional cities spoke about such a change in course. It is clear that the principle "sees the eye, but the tooth is dumb" often operates - there is no money for studies.

Sociologists have identified five main reasons why young people change their "life vector". Half did not pass the competition for the faculty they needed (50% of answers). There were not enough funds to pay for tuition for another 25 percent. Every tenth person has changed his attitude to the chosen specialty. So many were forbidden by their parents to travel far from home. One in twenty would not be able to pay for living in the city where the university is located.

The lack of money to pay for tuition is the reason why 35-45% of students who receive diplomas in the field of agriculture, forestry, water management, veterinary medicine, education, light industry, aviation, rocket science, architecture, construction have compromised with their and their parents' wallets , electronics, communications, photonics. When again (God forbid, of course) a rocket fails to take off, a lake dries up or an ugly house is built, remember these figures. Perhaps one of the responsible persons or unfortunate specialists simply dreamed of another profession, but ...

"Professional ballast" is now between 15% and 25% of students. They will work, but they will not put their soul into their workThere are, of course, target students, for whom the university is paid by enterprises and departments. On average - about 380 thousand rubles (in the production of electrical equipment and optics - about 70 thousand, in transport - up to 670 thousand). They have a special motivation. But there are few such students - only about 6%.

The profession is "useless"

In 2020, among graduates of Russian universities, 56% completed a bachelor's degree, 27% a specialist's degree, and 17% a master's degree. The issue of employment for the majority of students rises in all its acuteness four years after admission, for about a quarter - after five years, for the rest - after six. Not such a long time.

But at the stage of choosing a university, 90% of young people are not concerned about where they will work after graduation. The main thing that worries them is whether the university has the faculty they need (50%), and it has state-funded places (50%), whether the university is prestigious (40%), whether the quality of education is good (35%), what it takes a place in Russian and international ratings (30%).

By the end of the fourth year, two-thirds of the students already know where they will go to work. By the fifth year of study, almost three-quarters (72%) have already made up their minds, by the end of the master's program - 76%. 8% are finally determined after graduation and 16% do not think about employment. The most difficult thing to solve this question is for economists, geologists, specialists in mining and light industry.

The coveted diploma is finally received. What's next? And then how lucky. Approximately every fifth graduate receives job requests from enterprises (an analogue of guaranteed distribution). According to surveys, 69% of former students find work immediately after graduation. Most of the rest spend about six months on this search, and 6% - at least a year and a half. Every fifth person (21%) finds a job even before graduation. But these are average numbers. In megacities, up to 30-40% of university graduates can spend from 6 months to a year and a half on employment. The situation is slightly better in the Urals, Siberian and Far Eastern districts - only 20-25% of graduates experience such difficulties there.

A separate group of respondents were unemployed young professionals (including those who found and lost jobs). A third of them (32%) admitted that they made a mistake with the choice of specialty. At the time of the survey, representatives of this group tried to find a job on average 2 times. Only 28% managed to find a place in their main specialty, another 30% - something in between, 42% - in a completely different field. Most representatives of creative professions had to deal with other than their own business, half or more of those who received specialties in the field of tourism, catering, hotel management, as well as translators, linguists, scientists, etc. The main reason for dismissal was low wages. And the main argument for refusing employment is the lack of practical experience in the profession.

On average, 35% of young specialists faced with a lack of vacancies, 12% - with the fact that their profession is "not needed". This was said more often than others by musicians, artists, representatives of tourism and hotel services - (50-54%).

But managers and personnel officers of 60% of enterprises noted that young professionals are not too eager for self-development. They do not know how to mobilize their internal resources (opinion of 43% of respondents). They don’t want to “shift papers” all their lives, but they don’t try to achieve something more either. At the same time, at 80% of enterprises, a career or promotion is not related to the age of the employee and his work experience - as long as the specialist is competent. Young people, the leadership believes, should more actively demonstrate their abilities, and not wait for the weather by the sea.

Holes in the lifeline

In order for a person and his work to find each other, there are special employment services all over the country and in every university. The trouble is that so far they can do little. At the university, this is an average of 4 full-time employees, who very often sit somewhere on the outskirts or huddle in the "office of the trade union committee" and try their best to benefit students. But not everyone is aware of their existence (a maximum of 85% of students, in junior courses - half). With all their desire, these services cannot create and update full-fledged job banks.

37 percent of businesses need employees. But we are ready to take only experiencedAmong the young professionals interviewed by sociologists, about 8.1% found work through the university employment service, and 2.6% through the city agency. At the request of enterprises (after practice or for targeted distribution) - 11.5%. And 70-80% of graduates find jobs themselves with the help of their parents and friends or through advertisements on the Internet. Even if young people apply to the university employment service, vacancies are found for about half of the graduates. And the richer, the more happy. This work is not always in the specialty, sometimes with a low salary, to which graduates do not agree. There are, of course, regions where employment services at various levels find good contact with universities, hold job fairs, and exchange information about the labor market. But not everywhere.

Sociologists conclude that graduates solve the problems of their employment according to the principle "saving the drowning is the work of the drowning themselves." The method is, of course, proven. But hardly the best. Especially on the scale of a country like Russia.

Back to news 4,002 young specialists at 2007 enterprises were interviewed by personal interviews, including 214 unemployed at the time of the survey; in 202 universities - heads of graduate employment services; at 204 enterprises and institutions - heads of personnel management services; 41 heads of territorial (municipal) employment centers.

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Educated, but not needed?

The results of the survey are commented on by Academician Mikhail Gorshkov, scientific director of the Federal Scientific Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Mikhail Konstantinovich, we have more and more educated, but unclaimed specialists with university diplomas. It's not normal. How did it happen?

Mikhail Gorshkov: In the 90s, in the conditions of economic imbalance, our state faced the problem of mass unemployment among young people. And it was forced to expand the system of vocational education, including higher education, to bear the cost of training young people in state-funded places without guaranteeing their employment. This situation continues to this day. Universities play the role of a "shock absorber" to reduce potential unemployment, and do not work on a "government order" for enterprises and industries. Indeed, there is an imbalance - there are too many highly qualified specialists, and there are not enough skilled workers. Demographic "holes", and the increase in the retirement age, and other factors also affect. All this complicates the natural rotation of personnel with higher education, exacerbates competition in the intellectual labor market.

Half of those who entered another university did not pass the competition to "their own". Quarters - there was not enough money for study

Sometimes it is proposed to reduce enrollment in universities (especially in the humanities departments) and to close "inefficient" universities. Will this solve the problems?

Mikhail Gorshkov: No. Create new and much more serious. Under no circumstances should this be done. No state can develop without a high-quality, modern higher education. To make our universities "education for the elite" is not only to destroy in the bud what has been created over many decades, but also to cut off the oxygen for ourselves in almost any area. A sharp reduction in places in universities will just as rapidly exacerbate a number of social inequalities and destabilize society. And it doesn't bode well.

Another thing is that higher education must take into account the demands of the labor market and respond flexibly to them, but this is not happening yet. It is necessary to revise the very criteria for the effectiveness of educational institutions. Put at the forefront the practical results of their work - how many students study in the areas of enterprises, how many are employed in their main specialty, how successful the graduates' careers are in the first five years. Corporate universities that train specialists for specific industries help to balance supply and demand in the skilled labor market in all countries. But we have such universities in about 10 percent of large companies. Their creation is a long process. It is possible only in a period of stable business development, and not in times of crisis, as it is now. Therefore, whatever one may say, the leading role should be assumed by the state.

What can it do "here and now"?Mikhail Gorshkov: It is already making, investing billions in the education system within the framework of national projects and federal programs. But systemic work is needed. The main thing that requires reform is the system of vocational guidance for schoolchildren, training of specialists and their employment. It is necessary to unite the efforts of all services that are engaged in such work, from universities to federal ones. So far, they act like a swan, cancer and pike. Therefore, "things are still there." The financial aspect is also important. Many students do not have the funds to study according to their needs. At the state level, it is necessary to stimulate the development of a system of educational insurance, specialized funds, and interest-free loans for studying at a university for talented youth.

Based on our research, we have developed detailed recommendations that will help improve the system of career guidance and employment of young people with higher education. These materials have already been sent to relevant departments and authorities. I hope that they will listen to us and draw conclusions as soon as possible.

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