engleski

The role of strong and weak ties in finding a job: findings from the national survey of work and educational careers of young people in Croatia

Profound changes in the labor market during the period of post-socialist transition in Croatia have brought a multitude of new strategies and practices. This study aims to describe the main determinants of young people’s usage of social capital in the Croatian labor market. Data analysis was conducted on a population sample of Croatian youth (N = 2693) who completed their education by the year 2009.At the time the survey was conducted they had been entering and participating in the labor market with varying degrees of success. This paper describes the patterns of use of social capital with a strong analytical focus on the proximity and strength of the ties used to find the participants’ first and current jobs. Linear regression models were used to describe the influence of the socio-demographic correlates on the use of kinship ties, friends and acquaintances to gather information regarding the first job and subsequent jobs. The analysis shows that personal contacts are the most important information source when looking for a job, followed by formal channels, such as advertisements, the Croatian Employment Agency or specialized facilitating companies. Socio-demographic characteristics only slightly influence these patterns, suggesting that this practice is equally important in all socio-economic groups or classes. Our analysis suggests that the informant is at the same time an information provider and facilitator when entering vacant new workplace.We suggest that the role of social capital in the labor market still poses unresolved questions which are especially important in the context of the long-term high youth unemployment in Croatia and neighboring countries.

Croatia; transition; labor market; social capital; youth

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