Work Identity, Well-being and Time Perspective of Typical and Atypical Young Workers

During recent decades, important changes have occurred in the labor market and the spread of fixed-term employment contracts (i.e. atypical jobs) has increased job insecurity (Chirumbolo & Hellgren, 2003). Understanding the psychosocial consequences of this phenomenon is not an easy task because it is complex and multifaceted. For instance, in a qualitative study conducted with Italian young adults with atypical jobs, Sarchielli, Mandrioli, Palmonari and Vecchiato (2006) found evidence for both positive and negative outcomes of atypical employment contracts. Specifically, atypical workers evaluated their work conditions positively, although they complained about their contracts; they received strong support from their close social network (i.e. partner, peers and family), whereas they complained about the lack of adequate support from the trade unions and work services; they emphasized how job insecurity may lead to relational insecurity, by being an obstacle to the formation of a new family and to the possibility of having children; they underlined that atypical contracts may facilitate entrance into the labor market, but they might become a serious threat when the condition of atypical workers becomes chronic.