Unemployment and self-employment: expectations and realities (based on sociological surveys)

The study presents a comparative analysis of the results of two surveys conducted in Novosibirsk region in 2015. They involved unemployed people having an opportunity to become self-employed and the entrepreneurs started their business being unemployed. The novelty of the research lies in the original approach to analyzing the survey results: its focus is on comparing answers of respondents willing to do business and responses of entrepreneurs who have already set up a business. The paper analyzes the motives for establishing one’s own business, the scope of activity favorable for self-employment development, the assistance required, and the problems of self-employed people. The emphasis is placed on social and demographic indicators of entrepreneurs and the changes in their financial situation, social and psychological well-being. The authors conclude that the development of small businesses and self-employment as an integrated approach to solving employment problems deserves great attention and support as it helps to change the stereotypes about employment among the population, generates values and motivations, and contributes to the overall growth of the population’s well-being and reduction of social tension in society. A number of measures are proposed to improve activities in this regard.