The working class in the social structure of society: assessing the prestige of the profession

The paper presents the results of two authors' sociological studies. The first study was conducted in September - December 2019 with a sample size of 1,500 respondents. The object of the study was the working youth. The second study was conducted in January - March 2020 by the method of expert interviews, which was attended by 30 managers of various organizations with young workers under their command. The results of the study are based on a comparative analysis of the responses of workers and managers on the issues of prestige, the demand for working professions among young people and their potential for ensuring a decent life. The paper also provides statistical data on Russia and the Republic of Tatarstan, which allow us to state a decrease in the number of workers in the socio-professional structure, one of the reasons is the decline in the prestige of this profession. The most effective measures to increase the prestige of working professions in society are identified: increasing wages, involvement of the business community in the formation of an order for working personnel, practical implementation of social package, and holding events to popularize working professions through the mass media.