The Motivation of Youth to Choose Municipal Service (Case Study of the Altai Krai)

Annotation

In the context of declining youth trust in public institutions and increasing political disengagement, the issue of attracting young professionals to local self-government bodies becomes particularly pressing. Young people, possessing high innovative potential and adaptability, can play a significant role in the modernization of municipal governance. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the motivational factors influencing young people's choice of municipal service as a professional career path. The empirical basis of the research comprises the results of a socфiological survey conducted among students of Altai State University enrolled in the programs “Political Science”, “Law”, “Public and Municipal Administration” and “Economics” (n = 212). The findings indicate that although there is sustained interest in municipal service among young people, it is lower compared to their preference for employment in state government bodies. Key motivational drivers include material needs, the pursuit of independence, and the possibility of combining work with education. Factors reducing the attractiveness of municipal service include low wages and weak social support. Students emphasized the demand for mentorship programs and flexible working schedules. The study highlights the importance of institutional adaptation of municipal authorities to the educational and career expectations of the younger generation.

Keywords

• youth
• motivation
• motivational attitudes
• local self-government bodies
• municipal administration
• municipal service
• youth policy
• personnel policy
• employment
• personnel reserve
* click on a keyword to go to the search

References

1. Abramov, R. A., Surilov, M. N., Denisova, A. I. Vospriyatie karery i motivatsiya molodykh spetsialistov v sfere gosudarstvennogo i munitsipalnogo upravleniya [Career perception and motivation of young professionals in the field of state and municipal administration]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gorodskogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. Seriya “Ekonomika” [Moscow City Pedagogical University Bulletin. Series “Economics”]. 2023, no. 3 (37), pp. 79–98, doi: 10.25688/2312-6647.2023.37.3.07.
2. Zaitseva, T. V., Nezhina, T. G. Privlechenie molodezhi na gosudarstvennuyu i munitsipalnuyu sluzhbu: opyt regionov Rossii [Attracting youth to state and municipal service: experience of Russian regions]. Voprosy gosudarstvennogo i munitsipalnogo upravleniya [Public and Municipal Administration Issues]. 2019, no. 1, pp. 160–189.
3. Kochnev, S. V. Uchastie molodezhi v razvitii mestnogo samoupravleniya [Youth participation in the development of local self-government]. Znanie. Ponimanie. Umenie [Knowledge. Understanding. Skill]. 2010, no. 1, pp. 86–91.
4. Masilova, M. G., Lobov, V. E. Problemy kadrovogo obespecheniya organov mestnogo samoupravleniya i puti ikh resheniya [Problems of staffing local self-government bodies and ways to solve them]. Territoriya novykh vozmozhnostey. Vestnik VGUES [Territory of New Opportunities. Bulletin of Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service]. 2019, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 170–179, doi: 10.24866/VVSU/2073-3984/2019-4/170-179.
5. Obsledovanie potrebnosti organizatsiy v rabotnikakh za 2023 god [Survey of organizations’ needs for employees for 2023.]. Available at: http://www.rosstat.gov.ru/folder/13781 (accessed: 01.06.2025).
6. Federalnyy zakon ot 2 marta 2007 g. № 25-FZ “O munitsipalnoy sluzhbe v Rossiyskoy Federatsii” (s izmeneniyami i dopolneniyami) [Federal Law of March 2, 2007 No. 25-FZ “On Municipal Service in the Russian Federation” (as amended)]. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/12152272/ (accessed: 01.06.2025).
7. Federalnyy zakon ot 30 dekabrya 2020 g. № 489-FZ “O molodezhnoy politike v Rossiyskoy Federatsii” (s izmeneniyami i dopolneniyami) [Federal Law of December 30, 2020 No. 489-FZ “On Youth Policy in the Russian Federation” (as amended)]. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/400156192/ (accessed: 01.06.2025).
8. Atkinson, J. W. Motives in fantasy, action, and society. Princeton: Van Nostrand; 1958, 379 p.
9. Ballard, P. J. What motivates youth civic involvement? Journal of Adolescent Research. 2014, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 439–463.
10. Campbell, J. W. Marketization and public service motivation: Cross-country evidence of a deleterious effect. Public Personnel Management. 2023, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 91–116.

Popular articles