Key points
- 49.4% of young people in Chernihiv region are unemployed, and among those who work, only 20.3% are employed in their specialty.
- More than two-thirds of working young people are employed in jobs unrelated to their education.
- 67.6% of respondents want to start their own business, but the main obstacle is a lack of funds.
- Other barriers include a lack of knowledge about grants, lack of experience, and fear of failure.
- 53.2% of respondents do not know about grant and internship programs, and only 12.8% are well-informed.
- Almost 40% are willing to undergo a one-year paid internship at enterprises or institutions in Chernihiv region.
49.4% of young people in Chernihiv region are unemployed, and among those who work, only 20.3% are employed in their specialty, according to a study on the needs of young people conducted by the Youth Council under the Chernihiv Regional Administration.
More than two-thirds of working young people are employed in jobs unrelated to their education.
In open-ended questions, young people described their job search using words like “difficult” and “I was found by myself”, mentioning remote employment outside their community and difficulties in finding decent pay.
Such responses illustrate the deformation of the local labor market, where even having a job does not guarantee meeting expectations or qualifications.
At the same time, 67.6% of respondents want to start their own business, but face a number of obstacles:
- lack of financial resources – 79.3%;
- insufficient information about grants and programs – 62.2%;
- lack of knowledge and practical experience – 58.1%;
- fear of failure – 54.3%.
In their own response options, the words “war”, “corruption”, and “lack of state support” appeared.
Awareness of development opportunities remains low: 53.2% of respondents do not know about the existence of grant and internship programs – neither at the local nor at the national level. Only 12.8% consider themselves well-informed.
At the same time, almost 40% expressed their willingness to undergo a one-year paid internship at enterprises or institutions in Chernihiv region, provided the term is 1 year.
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Young people in Chernihiv region: unemployment, a lack of space, and hope for change

