# Working conditions and attitudes towards work: the case of Portuguese youth from Braga

## TL;DR

This study examines the work conditions and attitudes of young people in Braga, Portugal, finding that their work identity is linked to sociability and personal fulfillment.

## Contribution

The study highlights a generational shift in how youth in Braga perceive work, emphasizing sociability and personal fulfillment over traditional employment stability.

## Key findings

- Youth in Braga often experience precarious employment but do not fully internalize this instability in their work attitudes.
- Work identity for these youth is increasingly tied to sociability and fulfillment in other life areas.
- Earnings from work are used in ways that reflect a broader personal and social identity.

## Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the working conditions and attitudes towards work among the youth of Braga, Portugal. Focusing on residents of the Municipality of Braga born between 1990 and 2000, we employed a quantitative approach using a non-probabilistic convenience sampling method, with a sample size of 406 people. The survey, conducted through questionnaires, reveals a complex interplay between the youth’s work attitudes and their conditions. Despite the predominance of precarious employment, their work experiences and expectations do not entirely reflect this instability. Our findings suggest a shift in the role of work in the youths’ identity compared to previous generations. This shift, common in post-industrial societies, shows that their identity is increasingly tied to the sociability their work enables and other life spheres where they seek fulfilment, as evidenced by how they utilize their earnings from these occupations.