Social representations of employment and unemployment from the Basque Country population

Abstract

With the theoretical methodological basis of social representations (SR), concepts of employment and unemployment were analyzed in two population groups from the Basque Country: people 20 years old and under and adults over 21 years old. The associative technique of free listings was used in order to know the content and structure of SR, as well as the identification of the central nucleus and the peripheral elements. For the participants employment is an occupation that implies earning money, allows the needs’ satisfaction, and generates happiness. For the group that was 21 years old or older it means, obtaining dignity, to be satisfied and a sure future. Unemployment leads to a lack of money, crisis and poverty, causes hopelessness, depression and overwhelms the person. For the participants over 21 it generates problems, debts, depression, anguish, marginalization and the politicians and the government are blamed for its existence. We conclude with proposals from participants for coping with unemployment.