| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 國際研究英語碩士學位學程 (IMPIS) === 105 === Youth unemployment in the context of the school-to-work transition is an important issue to understand given its implications for individual development, society, the economy, and the education system. While this topic has received strong attention in the North America and Europe, less research on the topic in East Asia exists. Given the sharp fall in fertility rates, rising youth unemployment, and the adverse social consequences of incomplete school-to-work transitions in East Asia, there is a need for greater analysis on the topic. This thesis sets out to investigate the context in which youth unemployment and the school-to-work transition emerged as a publicly concerned issue in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Moreover, this thesis seeks to analyze the discourses that have been put forth in public discussions and deliberations and consequently how policymakers have responded.
A qualitative method is used to provide a holistic understanding of the issue and generate more suitable solutions. In addition to analyzing the discourse, the thesis examines the results of the East Asia Social Survey (EASS), particularly the relevance of social capital to youth unemployment. Based on the findings in the discourse and the EASS data, it is found that the challenges to the school-to-work transition in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are the intense exam culture, youth’s lack of social capital, a deficit of practical experience opportunities, and the strong emphasis on rote learning in the education systems. It is thus recommended that policymakers consider alternative measurements to exam results in determining the academic future of young people as well as increasing their opportunities to gain social capital and work experience.
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