Theoretical and methodological foundations for investigating factors determining the attractiveness of employment in state and municipal structures among students

This study examines the primary theoretical and methodological approaches to the sociological analysis of the attractiveness of professional activity in state and municipal structures among student youth. The aim of the study is to provide a structured overview of various scholarly perspectives applied to investigating the merits and demerits of employment in the public sector. A systematic review of scientific approaches relevant to this topic, including economic, managerial, and pedagogical approaches, is presented. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of each approach to identify commonalities and specific characteristics that influence students’ decisions to pursue or reject career paths in government and municipal institutions. Additionally, the study incorporates findings from a VCIOM (All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center) survey on the “Prestige of the Profession of State and Municipal Employee”. The survey reveals that only approximately 2 % of students express a preference for employment in this field of activity, indicating a relatively low level of interest among youth in career advancement within the state and municipal civil service. It is emphasized that this situation may be attributed to prevailing societal stereotypes concerning the perceived inefficiency and lack of transparency in the bureaucracy. The author concludes that these perceptions may significantly impact the attractiveness of public sector careers for the younger generation.