The Precariousness of Transition to Adulthood and Social Policy in Poland

This chapter explores the complex transition to adulthood, which involves various processes like education, employment, leaving the family home, and forming relationships, all of which are interconnected and influenced by social and economic changes. Unlike the past, the contemporary transition is characterized by fragmentation, uncertainty, and postponement due to extended education periods and difficulties in securing stable employment. Young adults are often referred to as being in a state of “emerging adulthood” or “postponed adulthood.” The chapter highlights that the instability of traditional adulthood markers challenges the assumption that adulthood is achieved once certain milestones are reached, leading to varied experiences for different individuals. In the context of Poland, the study examines the paradoxical challenges faced by young adults despite favorable employment statistics, attributing these difficulties to precarious employment, changing values of university degrees, and a policy approach that shifts risks onto families, perpetuating social and economic inequalities in the transition to adulthood.