“Austrian youth are cosmopolitan, conservative and cautious,” State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) said on Thursday. She presented the new youth report, for which 16 to 29 year olds were interviewed. The results are partly contradictory.
Overall, the various crises of recent years have brought “self-preservation” to the forefront, said youth researcher Bernhard Heinzlmaier. “Selfless individualism” is opposed to the desire for the common good. Those surveyed (57 percent) find health particularly important.
Almost every second person (49 percent) would like to own a house, although there are gender differences. 59 percent of female respondents want to own property, but only 39 percent of males. These differences also exist when it comes to questions about rural life or the desire to have children. One possible explanation is the different socialization of girls and boys, Heinzlmaier said.
Plakolm: Only 20 hours of work “dangerous”
Secretary of State Plakolm stressed that it is difficult to finance one’s own home: “I find the current credit line dangerous and unrealistic.” In addition, high construction costs and interest rates are problematic, which would cause many to drop out. The politician described it as “dangerous” to work for only 20 hours without interruption. “We need motivation for effort.”
According to the report, young Austrians worry about rising prices (44 percent), inflation (35 percent) and wars (34 percent). This is followed by climate change (29 percent) and mental health (28 percent). “Young people tend to think about the climate and are more liberal when it comes to migration issues – there is a huge difference (compared to older people),” Heinzlmaier said.
FPÖ: “Shouldn’t touch your own generation”
After the presentation of the report, some organizations pointed out their demands for more state-funded places for psychotherapy (SOS Children’s Villages) or more political participation (Austrian Union Youth) for young people, others criticized Plakolm personally. She should take young people seriously when it comes to issues such as housing (Socialist Youth) and not “touching their own generation” (FPÖ, Claudia Plakolm is 28 years old, note). The NEOS invited Plakolm to a joint youth summit.
For the results, data from various preliminary studies have been summarized, the data were collected by various research institutes over a period of three years. It is the eighth “Report on the situation of young people in Austria”.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
