Employment trends and future expectations of university students in the context of youth poverty

There is a growing interest in youth studies around the world. However, the number of studies that directly focus on youth poverty is quite low. Existing studies have generally addressed youth poverty in terms of unemployment, family poverty and social exclusion. However, youth poverty should also be considered as a problem belonging to the youth group. This study aims to contribute to youth studies by examining the poverty experiences of university student workers in the context of youth poverty with the sample of "university student workers". Within the scope of the research, 26 university students who are both studying and working were reached through social media and snowball method, and the desired data were obtained through semi-structured interview technique. The semi-structured questions asked in the in depth interview were prepared by the researcher by reviewing the literature. The data analysis phase was carried out through the Maxqda 2020 program, and descriptive and content analysis were used together. As a result of the analysis of the data; three main iv themes, namely poor youth, employment trends and future expectations, and sub themes related to these themes were reached and the findings are given in the third and final part of the study. Throughout the research, the emerging conditions of youth poverty and poverty experiences were emphasized, and the approach of young people to personal and social problems and how their future expectations are shaped were analyzed. Poor young people who participated in the research are forced to work while studying for economic reasons. University students work in precarious jobs for long hours and low wages in order to sustain their lives and not be a burden on their families. Although young people work, they cannot fully meet their basic needs and may resort to borrowing for their wants and needs. On the other hand, working while studying negatively affects their academic and social lives. Young people do not feel young and see themselves as poor. The most frequently repeated complaint of young people about the economy and the education system is being able to socialize. Young people are unable to socialize sufficiently and have neither the time nor the money to do so. Young people generally have negative thoughts and expectations about the social and economic structure of the society they live in. It is also observed that young people are unhappy. It can be said that the children of poor families prefer to work while studying as a way out of their continued poverty in their youth. However, working under poor working conditions while studying further deepens their poverty. The poverty of today's youth may cause the poverty of society tomorrow.