They say it's a more relaxed environment than the private sector. 63% want a country with a larger public sector.

Mauricio Macri's administration began with a public discourse focused on entrepreneurs, foreign investment, business growth, and reducing the size of the state. However, unlike in previous decades, public opinion today seems to contrast sharply with the ideals of the current government officials. A private study revealed that 61% of the population prefers "a country where the state does most things," while 23% opted for private companies. Furthermore, when given the choice between a public and a private sector job (all other things being equal), 48% of those surveyed chose the public sector.

The research was conducted in August 2016 by the Center for Studies in Applied Communication (CECAP), of the Universidad AustralIt is a center focused on research, advising, and training, through university research and teaching, on public communication issues. The study sought to gauge public opinion on public and private employment as work environments; how people view employers and the self-employed; and what the advantages and disadvantages of both types of employment are according to middle and lower socioeconomic sectors.

Among the main conclusions of the study, which included focus groups and telephone surveys, 53% responded that the public company generates more trust, on average, in which 63% represented the lowest sectors and 44% the ABC1. Meanwhile, 34%, on average, chose the private company, chosen in 41% by the upper middle sectors (C2C3).

When asked, "What would you choose if you had two identical job offers, one from the private sector and the other from the public sector?", the majority of respondents opted for public sector employment.

"In the overall assessment, the public sector is a space that generates sympathy. It is described as a place where employment is carried out in a more humane way, while the private sector is associated almost exclusively with the pursuit of economic gain, profit or gain," the report explains.

"In public employment, the demands placed on results are not necessarily related to financial gain, and for this reason, personal development is given more weight." Furthermore, there's a perception that "times have changed," which is why it's more "relaxed" and the demands are lower.

The public sector is also perceived as offering greater stability and peace of mind. In contrast, the main criticisms of the private sector are associated with instability, budget cuts, and impersonal interactions. It is also perceived as having higher demands and greater control. Positive comments, in this case, focus on the creation of opportunities. People who highlight private sector work speak of it as a source of advancement and higher income.

Other perceptions analyzed by CECAP relate to the public's understanding of what constitutes a company, an entrepreneur, or a self-employed individual. "If the term 'company' has few positive connotations, the term 'entrepreneur' has practically none," the study noted. "They are criticized for their self-interest, their ambition for money, and their unwavering focus on profit or gain."

In contrast, the term "self-employed" is an aspirational ideal, highly regarded by almost all those interviewed. "Among young people and some middle-class sectors, being independent/self-employed emerges as an ideal model. For those who see it as a near-term possibility, the difficulty of enduring a period without income arises: perhaps for this reason, those with families and middle age are more reluctant to make the change," according to the study.

*Note published on 8/12/2017 in ClarínImage credit: https://unsplash.com/