Das GEPO-Symposium zum Thema „Great Resignation: Rückzug aus dem Arbeitsmarkt und Sinnsuche junger Arbeitnehmer:innen nach der Pandemie“ fand vom 6. bis 8. Februar 2025 im Nell-Breuning-Haus Herzogenrath statt. Es wurde organisiert in Zusammenarbeit mit EZA und wurde finanziert von der Europäischen Union. Es brachte 41 Vertreter:innen von Arbeitnehmerorganisationen aus Deutschland, Belgien, Frankreich, Luxemburg und den Niederlanden zusammen.
Fachliche Ergebnisse
Vor fünf Jahren braThe GEPO symposium on the “The Great Resignation: Withdrawal from the labour market and search for meaning of young workers after the pandemic” search for meaning after the pandemic’ was held from 6-8 February 2025 in the Nell-Breuning-Haus, Herzogenrath. It was organised in collaboration with EZA and funded by the European Union. 41 representatives of worker organisations from Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands attended the symposium.
Professional outcomes
It is now five years since the coronavirus swept through the population. Governments in many European countries also used lockdowns, restrictions on contact and social distancing in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. This period has left deep scars on a large number of children and young people, and has not been without consequences for their mental health and participation in vocational training and work.
The GEPO symposium held in the Nell-Breuning-Haus aimed to explore this crucial social issue. Dr. Johanna Wilmes from the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, emphasised the fact that three years of a subdued, low-contact and essentially digital life is an eternity from the perspective of a young person. This experience was followed by accumulating crises such as war and inflation and has characterised their attitude to life.
This feeling manifests itself in insecurity, exhaustion and helplessness. Many young people expect very little from the future because things will turn out very differently to what they anticipate. They missed out on their youth, were not listened to or not consulted regarding the extent of the protective measures. The social infrastructure in which they are supposed to live, learn and develop has been criminally neglected for too long.
The consequences of this are now being recognised in the professional world as demonstrated by the in-depth discussions with the works council of the Aachen-based company Zentis, the social employment project AMOTIMA and the Young Christian Workers (Christliche Arbeiterjugend) (CAJ). Psychosocial problems such as shyness with contacts and a lack of resilience are also increasing along with professional disadvantages. Young people are also less motivated to sacrifice leisure and social activities to focus on full-time employment.
The situation is even worse for young people in precarious circumstances. Their already slim chances of professional and social participation in the future deteriorated even further during the pandemic. Now more than ever it is essential to have a qualified second labour market that goes beyond regular gainful employment.
Conclusion: The transition between school and work requires extended support in terms of social work, solidarity and pastoral care - not only at the end of schooling, but also during the vocational training phase.
Institutional outcomes
The international exchange within the organiser network has introduced many perspectives to the European social dialogue. Living and working with the experiences and consequences of the pandemic is also an important theme for many network partners.
The focus on young people is often a blind spot as the people responsible tend to be middle-aged and older. It is therefore understandable that, owing to their life experience, their view of those three difficult years is very different compared to that of young people.
In this respect, the participants left the symposium with various suggestions for further work in their national and regional networks. We need more knowledge, direct dialogue with young people and specific proposals.
The political demands arising from the consultations include strengthening the social infrastructure to ensure that young people can integrate into professional and social life. We should focus on disadvantaged people in precarious situations.
The network partners can offer proposals, services and facilities to contribute to the general social task. However, this requires political backing and financial support to secure the organisation and its work.