THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO STUDYING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN SOCIOLOGY

Abstract

This scientific research is dedicated to the topic “Theoretical approaches to the study of youth employment in sociology”, in which the sociological essence of the phenomenon of youth employment, its formation factors and features of its manifestation in modern socio-economic conditions are analyzed in depth theoretically. The relevance of the research is determined by the transformation of the global labor market, the expansion of the digital economy and the complexity of employment problems among young people. The work reveals the role of youth employment in the social system based on classical sociological theories - structural-functionalism, conflict theory and the concepts of social mobility. At the same time, modern approaches, in particular, the theory of human capital, the concepts of social capital and cultural capital, and changes in the labor market in the context of globalization are comprehensively analyzed. The research methodology is based on a systematic approach, comparative analysis, institutional approach and methods of summarizing empirical data. In particular, the current state and development trends of youth employment are studied based on international organizations (ILO, World Bank, OECD) and official statistical data of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The results of the study substantiate the role of education quality, social inequality, territorial disparities, the level of digital skills and the institutional environment as sociological determinants of youth employment. Also, the importance of innovative approaches, the interaction between state policy and social institutions in increasing youth employment is scientifically substantiated. The scientific novelty of this work is determined by the integrated application of classical and modern sociological theories in the study of youth employment and the disclosure of their practical significance in the conditions of Uzbekistan. The results of the study are of significant theoretical and practical importance in developing effective social policies to regulate youth employment.