“I Work Casually, It's Not an Adult Job Yet” - the Experience of “Not-Real Jobs” Among the Youth Entering Labour Market in Poland

This study explores the complex labour market experiences of young adults as they navigate “not-real jobs” - positions seen as temporary or secondary in nature - before securing what they define as "real jobs."

First, we present the data on the situation of young Poles on the labour market, based on the national survey conducted as a part of the bigger research project “ULTRAGEN: Becoming an adult in times of ultra-uncertainty: intergenerational theory of ‘shaky’ transitions” funded by the National Science Centre of Poland. The representative sample consisted of 2104 young Poles (49% of women) aged 18-35 (M = 27.55; SD = 4.99). Secondly, we analyse the longitudinal qualitative interviews from the ULTRAGEN project.

The results indicated that the “not-real jobs” (often part-time or seasonal roles) offered participants flexibility during studies or other life pursuits but were characterised by limited stability and reduced fit with educational attainment and life goals. In contrast, "real jobs" aligned with career aspirations, offered financial and psychological stability, and were typically associated with corporate or professional settings.

While some participants transitioned into "real jobs" during the study period, often aided by educational achievements or promotions, others remained in temporary positions, emphasising barriers such as skills mismatches, market demand shifts, concerns about automation, and consequences of the pandemic. Experiences in “not-real jobs" varied widely, with some individuals valuing these roles for experimentation and self-discovery, while others faced negative working conditions that clarified career paths they wished to avoid.

The findings are discussed highlighting a growing precarity in the youth labour market, where aspirations for stability clash with economic uncertainty, leading to a pervasive sense of instability.