46% of EU youth aged 15-30 consider setting up their own business

Mar 20 2023

According to a new Eurobarometer report, 46% of young people aged between 15 and 30 in the EU would consider setting up their own business.

However, only few have taken active steps to do so, with a lack of capital or resources, financial risks, insufficient knowledge and entrepreneurship skills touted as the main barriers.

14% are taking steps to start a business, with 9% of these being self-employed. 39% of young people were found to prefer being self-employed.

Only one-third of young people were familiar with the concept of social entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, the report found that a majority of young people, at 75%, deem it ‘very or fairly important’ that a potential employer has defined social goals.

73% deemed it important that there are environmental goals whilst a whopping 78% deem it important for an employer to have participatory decision making skills.

#MaltaDaily

SOS Malta set up 50 tents for Turkey earthquake victims

Mar 20 2023

SOS Malta, a registered Maltese voluntary organisation, has set up 50 tents in Reyhanli, Hatay to receive homeless families after the devastating earthquake in Turkey.

The organisation explained in a social media statement that the area has been fitted with water and sanitation facilities.

Every tent has electricity installed and is fitted with all basic needs. Meanwhile, two larger tents will serve as a classroom as well as a prayer room respectively.

‘This is OUR solidarity and YOUR generosity for which we Thank You’ they explained. ‘SOS Malta’s Emergency response once again has shown that Together we can make a Difference.’

SOS Malta is a Maltese-registered Voluntary Organisation set up in 1991, which aims to aid people experiencing times of crisis and to empower them by providing support services and opportunities to implement development and change in their country.

If you wish to contribute, you can do so here.

#MaltaDaily

Most Gen Z kids don’t believe they need a degree for a successful career

Mar 20 2023

Many Gen Z-ers do not think a college degree is necessary to have either a successful career.

According to a global study, around 40% of Gen Z kids (anyone said to be born between 1997 and 2012) believe that college degrees are not necessary.

The study consisted of over 7,000 workers conducted by freelancing job platform Fiverr in partnership with Censuswide. 70% stated that they consider freelancing just as viable as a career option as a traditional nine-to-five.

‘The autonomy freelancing affords serves as a major draw for a generation eager to pursue their passions, hone their skills, and have more control over their earnings and career trajectory’, wrote Fiverr’s chief marketing officer Gali Arnon.

Even consultancy firm Gartner reported how in 2023, critical roles will be filled by organisations becoming more comfortable assessing candidates on their ability to perform rather than credentials.

Meanwhile, Fortune 500 companies like Google and Apple have been avoiding their degree requirements in recent years. In November 2022, just 41% of US based job postings required a bachelor’s degree. This is a 5% drop from 2019.

This is not even a pandemic repercussion. In 2016, IBM coined the term ‘new collar jobs’, which refers to roles requiring specific, teachable skills rather than degrees.

Skills are thus becoming the new degrees, with the fast pace of the labour market requiring alternative, flexible and adaptable employees.

#MaltaDaily

French parents could be banned from over-sharing photos of their kids