Sport, army, science and education are four areas where success and promotion are strongly dependent on personal qualities and skills, according to Russians.
MOSCOW, JUNE 25, 2020. To mark Youth Day, Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the opportunities for young people to succeed in various areas.
Russians consider that the top area where people can achieve success on their own in Russia is sport (86%). Compared to February 2019, this share has decreased by 3 p.p. Most of young people aged 18-24 think so (97%).
Military service is another area where people have high chances to succeed using their skills (84%). Ninety-six percent of young Russians share this opinion.
The majority considers that it is in our control to become successful in science and education (82%; +3 p.p. since February 2019), the activities of public organizations (77%), and entrepreneurship (71%). More than half of Russians also think that people can rise to success without the help of others in such areas as culture and show business (66%), the Russian Orthodox Church activities (63%), public and municipal administration (50%). Political sphere is the most difficult area to achieve success in without bringing in extra resources (47%). Young Russians aged 18-24 appear quite optimistic: 55% of them think that this is possible.
As to trajectories people can succeed in on their own, most of respondents say it is really possible to get a good education (79%). Young respondents aged 18-24 and 25-34 are more likely to believe it can be fulfilled (90% and 93%, respectively).
Many Russians also think that they can move up the career ladder by themselves (66%). They are more often younger respondents (aged 18-24): 95% of them are confident they can get a good position. Russians also consider it possible to get a prestigious job (57%) or to start their own business (47%).
Only one-third of respondents willing to succeed in life or to become part of elite believe that they can become rich (33%) and join social elite (30%) without the help of others. Those who share this stance are often young people: 74% of the 18-24-year-olds are confident they can become rich; 63% believe that they will be able to become part of social elite.
The three major reasons why Russians fail to achieve success or a higher social status are lack of money (36%), lack of connections (16%), and lack of ambitions or hard work (14%). In addition, 13% consider it important to move to another city or a country to succeed in life; 11% say they are lacking education. The list of reasons preventing Russians from achieving success in life has not changed over the three-year period of measurement.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on May 27, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
In your opinion, can a person become successful or reach high levels of social status on his/her own in Russia in the following areas? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Sport | ||||||
Likely yes | 86 | 97 | 88 | 88 | 81 | 85 |
Likely no | 11 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 11 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Military service | ||||||
Likely yes | 84 | 96 | 86 | 83 | 84 | 78 |
Likely no | 11 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 12 |
Don’t know | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
Science and education | ||||||
Likely yes | 82 | 92 | 83 | 81 | 78 | 82 |
Likely no | 15 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Public organizations | ||||||
Likely yes | 76 | 89 | 77 | 80 | 75 | 70 |
Likely no | 18 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 |
Don’t know | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
Entrepreneurship, business | ||||||
Likely yes | 71 | 86 | 77 | 74 | 69 | 62 |
Likely no | 26 | 14 | 22 | 24 | 29 | 32 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Culture, art, show business | ||||||
Likely yes | 66 | 83 | 67 | 67 | 63 | 62 |
Likely no | 28 | 16 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 28 |
Don’t know | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
Russian Orthodox Church | ||||||
Likely yes | 63 | 73 | 63 | 63 | 65 | 58 |
Likely no | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Don’t know | 22 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 28 |
Public and municipal administration | ||||||
Likely yes | 51 | 67 | 46 | 49 | 44 | 56 |
Likely no | 43 | 33 | 49 | 47 | 48 | 33 |
Don’t know | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
Politics | ||||||
Likely yes | 47 | 55 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 55 |
Likely no | 46 | 45 | 56 | 54 | 45 | 34 |
Don’t know | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
Can you become successful in the following areas using only your own skills? (closed-ended question, one answer per line; % of respondents except for those who were not planning “to become successful in these areas”) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
To get good quality education | ||||||
Likely yes | 79 | 90 | 93 | 85 | 72 | 66 |
Likely no | 19 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 26 | 31 |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
To move up the career ladder, to get a good position | ||||||
Likely yes | 66 | 95 | 82 | 72 | 47 | 44 |
Likely no | 31 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 51 | 49 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
To have a prestigious job | ||||||
Likely yes | 57 | 90 | 79 | 60 | 38 | 31 |
Likely no | 40 | 10 | 19 | 36 | 57 | 64 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
To run your own company, to start up a business | ||||||
Likely yes | 47 | 78 | 67 | 56 | 32 | 17 |
Likely no | 51 | 22 | 32 | 41 | 66 | 79 |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
To become a rich man | ||||||
Likely yes | 33 | 74 | 51 | 34 | 17 | 12 |
Likely no | 62 | 22 | 43 | 59 | 79 | 85 |
Don’t know | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
To become part of social elite | ||||||
Likely yes | 30 | 63 | 44 | 27 | 15 | 19 |
Likely no | 62 | 31 | 45 | 62 | 79 | 74 |
Don’t know | 8 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 7 |
What are you lacking now to succeed in life, to get a higher social status? (closed-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||
| October 18 | February 19 | June 19 | January 20 | May 20 |
Funds, money | 40 | 36 | 39 | 37 | 36 |
Connections | 12 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Personal qualities (ambitions, single-mindedness, hard work, communicative skills, etc.) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 |
A new place to live (moving to another city or a country) | 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Education | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
Particular social background (for example, parents’ social status) | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Competence, professional skills | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
A good marriage | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Health, young age | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Job | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Specific ethnicity | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
I am fine with everything; I am not striving to get more than I have (from “other”) / no desire | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
I have already succeeded, achieved a high social status | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 17 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Don’t know | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.