In our study, we examine the term vulnerability in relation to the working habits and opportunities of Romanian-Hungarian cross-border youth. In this respect, target group members are vulnerable not only in their private lives but also in the labor market. We address the problem by taking into account the specificities of the generation and the specific situation (geographical and social mobility) of young people living along the Romanian-Hungarian border. The research was founded upon qualitative research carried out by a mirror project, in which focus group and career interviews are added to the situation exploration.
Who is considered „vulnerable”? Or could we also ask who considers themselves „vulnerable”? We consider it important to emphasize subjective opinions, as our research also aims to assess what young people themselves think of their current situation. Therefore, we examine the perceptualization and possible adaptation of insecurity, the existence of individual and / or collective security. According to our hypothesis, housing, education, access to health care and, last but not least, employment are factors that can provide a wider picture of the current situation of the target group. The partial results of the research so far confirm that the labor market situation of young people living in the border areas of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg – and thus their vulnerability, even their exposability – extends to many other areas, despite the economic prosperity of recent years.
Keywords: vulnerability; youth; labor market; working habits
