Decent Work: Representations and Prospects of Work Among Vulnerable Young Argentine Workers

Argentina’s labor market conditions hinder the possibilities for social integration and the securing of decent work. This particularly affects vulnerable emerging adults without a high school diploma. This study aims to understand the meanings of work in general, actual work experiences, and expectations for the future of young urban unskilled workers with no high school diploma. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 men and women, and an inductive content thematic analysis was carried out. The main results show that (1) there is acceptance and resignation of highly precarious working conditions due to the unstable general context and the lack of quality employment, (2) there is a distinction between work and personal interests, and (3) future prospects are presented as a “crossroads” between your expectations and the options available. All this affects the meanings of work, the future, and therefore affects their well-being and identity construction.