The Transition of Jamaican - International Labour Organisation ...

Table 4.1: Rating of Goals by Category of Youth
Life Goals
Category of Youth
All
Youth
In-School
Not
Working
Employed
Self-
Employed
Being Successful in Work 10 10 10 10 10
Having a Good Family Life 9 8 9 8 9
Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life 8 9 8 9 8
Making a Contribution to Society 7 7 7 7 7
Having a lot of Different Experiences 6 6 6 6 6
Having a lot of Money 5 5 5 5 5
Upholding Religious Faith 4 4 4 4 4
Having Leisure Time 3 3 2 3 3
Working/Living in Other Countries 2 2 3 2 2
Participating in Politics 1 1 1 1 1
Selected Opinions of Young People
The opinions of young people were probed in relation to appropriate age to start
work, getting married and having children. According to the youth population,
women should work for an average six years before getting married, and according
to these statistics (Table 4.2) they should have their first child at age 23.8 years
– which is more than one year before the marital commitment. There were no sig-
Table 4.2: Opinions of Young People
Category
of Youth
Age for
Women to
Start
Working
Age for
Men to
Start
Working
Age for
Women to
Get
Married
Opinion
Age for
Men to
Get
Married
Age for
First Child
for
Women
Age for
First Child
for Men
In-School 19.7 19.0 24.7 25.8 24.6 24.8
Not Working 18.8 18.3 24.5 25.7 23.3 23.6
Employed 19.2 18.7 25.3 26.5 24.3 24.6
Self-Employed 19.1 18.4 25.8 27.1 23.0 23.5
All 19.2 18.6 25.1 26.3 23.8 24.1
CHAPTER 4: LIFE GOALS AND VALUES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
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