Youth and Economy

Social &
Demographic
Trends
February 9, 2012
Young, Underemployed and

Optimistic
Coming of Age, Slowly, in a Tough Economy
Paul Taylor, Director
Kim Parker, Associate Director

Demographer
Rakesh Kochhar, Associate Director
Richard Fry, Senior Researcher
Cary Funk, Senior Researcher
Eileen Patten, Research Assistant
Seth Motel, Research Assistant
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT
Pew Social & Demographic Trends

Tel (202) 419-4372
1615 L St., N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
www.pewsocialtrends.org
1
PEW SOCIAL & DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is based on findings from a Pew Research Center survey conducted Dec. 6-19, 2011,
among 2,048 adults nationwide, including 808 young adults (ages 18 to 34). The report also
draws on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here is a summary of the key findings:
Young adults hit hard by the recession. A plurality of the public (41%) believes young
adults, rather than middle-aged or older adults, are having the toughest time in today’s
economy. An analysis of government economic data suggests that this perception is correct.
The recent indicators on the nation’s labor market show a decline in the unemployment rate.
Nonetheless, since 2010, the share of young adults ages 18 to 24 currently employed (54%) has
been its lowest since the government began collecting these data in 1948. And the gap in
employment between the young and all working-age adults—roughly 15 percentage points—is
the widest in recorded history.1 In addition, young adults employed full time have experienced
a greater drop in weekly earnings (down 6%) than any other age group over the past five years.
Public says today’s young adults have it harder than their parents did. Large
majorities of the public say it’s harder for young adults to reach many of the basic financial
goals their parents may have taken for granted. More than eight-in-ten (82%) say finding a job
is harder for young adults today than it was for their parents’ generation. And at least seven-in-
ten say it’s harder now to save for the future (75%), pay for college (71%) or buy a home (69%).
Tough economic times altering young adults’ daily lives, long-term plans. While
negative trends in the labor market have been felt most acutely by the youngest workers, many
adults in their late 20s and early 30s have also felt the impact of the weak economy. Among all
18- to 34-year-olds, fully half (49%) say they have taken a job they didn’t want just to pay the
bills, with 24% saying they have taken an unpaid job to gain work experience. And more than
one-third (35%) say that, as a result of the poor economy, they have gone back to school. Their
personal lives have also been affected: 31% have postponed either getting married or having a
baby (22% say they have postponed having a baby and 20% have put off getting married).
One-in-four (24%) say they have moved back in with their parents after living on their own.
1
In this case “all adults” refers to those ages 18 to 64. Those ages 65 and older are excluded due to the relatively small share in
the labor force.
2
Young, Underemployed and Optimistic
Adulthood begins later than it used to. In a 1993 Newsweek poll, 80% of parents with
young children said children should be financially independent from their parents by the age
of 22. Today, only 67% of parents hold that view. Three-in-ten (31%) of today’s parents say
children shouldn’t have to be on their own financially until age 25 or later.
For young adults, bad times don’t trump optimism. Among those ages 18 to 34, nearly
nine-in-ten (88%) say they either have or earn enough money now or expect they will in the
future. Only 9% say they don’t think they will ever have enough to live the life they want.
Adults ages 35 and older are much less optimistic—28% say they don’t anticipate making
enough money in the future. 2 While young people are less likely now than they were before the
recession to say they currently have enough income, their level of optimism is undiminished
from where it was in 2004.
Older adults have maintained their standard of living. If any age group has weathered
the economic storm better than others, it has been adults ages 65 and older. In a 2004 Pew
Research survey, similar shares of young adults (50%), middle-aged adults (52%) and older
adults (50%) rated their personal financial situation “excellent” or “good.” By 2011, a large gap
had opened up between older adults and everyone else: 54% of older adults gave their personal
financial situation a high rating, compared with roughly one-third of younger and middle-aged
adults.
Among the employed, job satisfaction has remained steady … For those young adults
who are employed, most are relatively satisfied with their job. Job satisfaction among young
workers is roughly the same as it was before the recession and remains somewhat lower than
the satisfaction rate among workers ages 35 and older.
… But young workers feel more vulnerable than they used to. In a 1998 survey, 65%
of 18- to 34-year-olds working full time or part time said they were extremely or very confident
that they could find another job if they lost or left their current job.3 The share highly confident
fell dramatically to 25% in 2009. It has rebounded somewhat since then (to 43% in the current
survey) but is still nowhere near the 1998 level.
2
This includes both employed and not employed adults. Employed adults were asked if they “earn enough money” or expect they
will in the future; adults who are not employed were asked if the “have enough income” or expect to in the future.
3
1998 data are from a survey conducted by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis, University of Connecticut, and the
Heldrich Center at Rutgers University, Aug. 5-16, 1998, among 1,001 adults in the labor force.
3
Few young workers see their current job as a “career.” Among all 18- to 34-year-olds,
only 30% consider their current job a career. This compares with 52% among workers ages 35
and older. However, the survey suggests that young adults quickly begin to transition from job
to career. Among the youngest workers, those ages 18 to 24, only 11% say their job is a career.
Among workers ages 25 to 29, the share is three times that (34%). And among those ages 30 to
34, fully half (49%) say they view their job as a career.
Most young workers say they don’t have the education and training to get ahead.
Among 18- to 34-year-olds who are employed, less than half (46%) say they have the education
and training necessary to get ahead in their job or career. Among those who are not working,
only 27% say they are adequately prepared for the kind of job they want. Having a college
degree makes a big difference on this question: 69% of young college graduates who are
working say they have the education and training they need to get ahead. This compares with
only 39% of those who do not have a degree and are not enrolled in college.
College enrollment rates are tied to employment declines among the young. A
greater share of young adults are enrolled in high school or college today than at any time in
recorded history. This increase in enrollment is one reason that fewer young adults are on the
job today, but it doesn’t account for all the job losses experienced by this age group in recent
years. The Great Recession broadly reduced the employment rate of young adults regardless of
whether they were in school. Among those enrolled in school, the employment rate fell from
47.6% in 2007 to 40.7% in 2011. And among those not enrolled in school, it fell from 73.2% to
65.0% over that same period.
About the Data
The general public survey is based on telephone interviews conducted Dec. 6-19, 2011, with a nationally
representative sample of 2,048 adults ages 18 and older living in the continental United States, including an
oversample of 346 adults ages 18 to 34. A total of 769 interviews were completed with respondents contacted
by landline telephone and 1,279 with those contacted on their cellular phone. Data are weighted to produce a
final sample that is representative of the general population of adults in the continental United States. Survey
interviews were conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International, in
English and Spanish. Margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for results based on the
total sample and 4.4 percentage points for adults ages 18-34 at the 95% confidence level. For more details,
see Appendix 1.
The labor market data are based on the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of
approximately 72,000 housing units sponsored jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The basic monthly data are the U.S. government’s primary source of labor force statistics in the
country; for example, the nation’s monthly unemployment rate is based on the CPS. Most of the series on
employment, unemployment and labor force participation utilized the monthly data, as compiled by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. The information on school enrollment and weekly earnings come from the Merged
Outgoing Rotation Group (MORG) extracts of the CPS.
4
CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW
A plurality of the American public believes that young adults are having the toughest time of
any age group in today’s economy—and a lopsided majority says it’s more difficult for today’s
young adults than it was for their parents’ generation to pay for college, find a job, buy a home
or save for the future.
A new Pew Research Center survey also finds that young adults (ages 18 to 34) say that the
sluggish economy has had an impact on a wide array of coming-of-age decisions about career,
marriage, parenthood and schooling.
For example, nearly half (49%) say that in the past few years they have taken a job they didn’t
really want just to pay the bills. Smaller but still sizable shares say that because of the tough
economy they have gone back to school (35%), moved back in with their parents after living on
their own (24%), postponed having children (22%) or postponed getting married (20%).
These accommodations to a tough economy

appear to have contributed to a broader change When Does Adulthood Begin?
in social norms about when adulthood begins. Later than It Used To, Parents Say
The survey finds that today two-thirds (67%) of % of parents saying children have to be financially
independent by age …
parents of children age 16 or younger say
children should have to become financially 22 or younger 25 or older
independent from their parents by the age of
22—down from 80% who felt this way in 2011 67 31
1993.4
1993 80 19
The view that young adults are having the

Notes: Based on parents with children age 16 or younger.
toughest time of any age group in today’s For 2011, n=577. Data for 1993 are from a poll conducted
by Newsweek/PSRA April 25-May 4, 1993. “Don’t
economy is held by 41% of respondents of all know/Refused” responses not shown.
ages to the telephone survey conducted Dec. 6- PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q28
19, 2011, among a nationally representative
sample of 2,048 adults. A smaller share—
29%—say middle-aged adults are having the toughest time, while just 24% say older adults are
having the worst of it.
4
Data for 1993 are from a Newsweek/PSRA survey conducted Apr. 25-May 4, 1993, among 752 adult parents with children 16 or
younger. In the current survey, all adults were asked the question, and responses were filtered based on parental status.
5
Nearly half of all young adults (49%) say their age group is having the hardest time, but even in
the teeth of their own downbeat assessment, their long-term economic optimism remains
notably unscarred by current travails.
The survey finds that nearly nine-in-ten of Youthful Optimism, in the Face of
today’s 18- to 34-year-olds say either that they Tough Economic Times
already have or that they earn enough money % saying they …
to lead the kind of life they want (31%) or that Earn/have enough now
they expect to have enough in the future (57%). Don't earn/have enough now, will in future
Don't earn/have enough now, won't in future
Just 9% say they don’t ever anticipate having
enough money to lead the kind of life they
18-34 31 57 9
want.
35+ 50 17 28
Among adults ages 35 and older, the balance of
opinion on this question is quite different,
driven in part by life stage and in part by Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. The analysis combines
the results of four questions. Employed adults were asked if
attitude. A much higher share—50% versus they “earn enough money” to lead the kind of life they want;
respondents who were not employed were asked if they
31% among young adults—say they already “have enough income” to lead the kind of life they want.
“Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
earn or have enough money to lead the kind of PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q14, 15, 16, 17
life they want, not surprising given that more
of them are in their prime earning years. But
the survey also finds that a much higher share—28% of those 35 and older versus just 9%
among young adults—say they don’t think they will ever have or earn enough to live the life
they want.
When the same questions were asked on a survey in 2004—before the onset of a deep
recession and sluggish recovery that have been especially hard on young adults—the
generational patterns in the responses were nearly identical. Bad times, in short, have not
shaken youthful optimism.
Only time will tell if that optimism is warranted. For now, despite the recent decline in the
unemployment rate, an array of government trend data bears out the public’s verdict about the
economic difficulties facing the young, especially in the realms of employment, wages and
household wealth.
6
 Employment. By the end of 2011, the share of young adults (18- to 24-year-olds) who
were employed had fallen to 54.3%—the lowest level since the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics began collecting such data in 1948. Since the onset of the Great Recession in late
2007, the employment decline has been steeper for this age cohort than any other, and this
drop is only partly explained by the rising share who are in college. The employment rate
among those ages 25 to 34 has fallen much less precipitously in recent years and has
tracked more closely with the trend in employment among middle-aged workers.
 Unemployment. The
unemployment rate at Unemployment Rate, by Age, 1990-2011
the end of 2011 was
20%
16.3% for 18- to 24-year-
olds, compared with
8.8% for all adults ages 18-24
18 to 64. In the past three 15
years, the gap in the
unemployment rate
between 18- to 24-year-
10 25-29
olds and all working-age
All
adults is the widest in 30-34
recorded history. 35-64
5
 Weekly Earnings.
From 2007 to 2011,
inflation-adjusted real
median weekly earnings 0
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
among full-time workers
Notes: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
ages 18 to 24 fell by 6%,
Source: Tabulated by the Pew Research Center from data published by the U.S.
while earnings basically Bureau of Labor Statistics.
held level for all older age PEW RESEARCH CENTER
groups.
 Household Wealth. A Pew Research analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data finds that in
2009 (the latest year for which such data are available), the typical household headed by
someone age 65 or older had 47 times the net worth of the typical household headed by
someone under the age of 35. In 1984, that ratio had been ten-to-one.5
5
See “The Rising Age Gap in Economic Well-Being,” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, Nov. 7, 2011.
7
Findings from the new Pew Research survey, which oversampled adults ages 18 to 34, flesh out
these gloomy statistics and paint a nuanced picture of the lives of today’s young adults.6 They
are much less satisfied with their economic circumstances than they were before the recession,
yet they remain just as optimistic about their financial future. Those who are working value job
security over higher pay, though relatively few see their current occupation as a career.
The Recession’s Impact on the Young
A plurality of the public says young adults are How Economic Conditions Have
having the toughest time in today’s economy, Affected Young Adults’ Lives
and young people themselves are indeed % of 18- to 34-year-olds saying they have done each
feeling this most acutely. Fully half (49%) of in recent years because of economic conditions
those ages 18 to 34 say young adults are
Taken a job just to
struggling the most due to economic pay the bills 49
conditions. For the young, the impact of the

Gone back to
35
recession and weak recovery has not been school
limited to the labor market. They have felt it in Taken an unpaid
24
their day-to-day lives on many dimensions. job
Moved back in
24
with parents
Among adults under age 35, 49% say that due
Postponed having
to the bad economy over the past few years, a baby 22
they have taken a job they didn’t want just to
Postponed getting
pay the bills. More than one-third (35%) have married 20
gone back to school. And more than one-in-five

have taken an unpaid job, moved back in with Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q29

their parents, or postponed getting married or
having a baby.
In the midst of these challenges, today’s young adults are clearly having a harder time than
their parents did in reaching some of the most basic financial milestones. Young adults
themselves feel things are more difficult now. And middle-aged and older adults agree it’s
much harder to be a young adult today than it was a generation ago.
6
While government statistics identify the 18- to 24-year-old age group as suffering the greatest losses in jobholding in recent
years, the survey included an oversample of a broader group of young adults—those ages 18 to 34. This sampling approach
provided a larger pool of young adults who were employed and also allowed for age comparisons among young adults. A total of
808 interviews were conducted with respondents ages 18 to 34.
8
Strong majorities of all adults say it’s harder for today’s young people than it was for their
parents to find a job (82%), save for the future (75%), pay for college (71%) or buy a home
(69%). In some cases, middle-aged and older adults are even more likely than their younger
counterparts to say today’s young people have it harder.
All of this may be contributing to a growing perception that adulthood starts later these days
than it did in the past. Survey respondents were asked at about what age children should have
to be financially independent from their parents. Among all survey respondents, a narrow
majority (55%) say children should be financially independent by the time they are 22 years
old (15% say financial independence should come by age 18, 40% place the cutoff at age 22).
More than four-in-ten say children do not have to be financially independent until they are 25
or older (34% say children should be on their own by age 25, an additional 8% say age 30 or
later).
Data from a survey conducted in the early 1990s suggest that public perceptions about when
adulthood should begin have shifted significantly over the years. In 1993, 80% of parents with
children age 16 and under said children should
be financially independent by the age of 22.
Different Perspectives on Coming
Now, only 67% of parents with young children
of Age
share that view.
% saying children have to be financially independent
from their parents by age …
In the current survey, there is a significant age
22 or younger 25 or older
gap on this question of when a young adult
should be financially independent. Two-thirds Younger adults say… 66 32
of those younger than 35 say children should
be financially independent by age 22. And Older adults say… 44 53
nearly as many (63%) of those ages 35 to 49

Note: “Younger adults” are those ages 18-34 (n=808);
say the same. However, among those ages 50 “older adults” are those ages 50 and older (n=641). “Don’t
know/Refused” responses not shown.
and older, less than half (44%) say children
should be financially independent by age 22,
while a narrow majority (53%) says this doesn’t
need to happen until they are at least 25.
Middle-aged adults have not been immune from the hard economic times. If any group has
weathered the storm more easily than others, it has been older adults—those ages 65 and
older. Looking at the impact the recession has had on personal finances illustrates this point.
In a 2004 Pew Research survey, roughly equal proportions of young, middle-aged and older
adults rated their own personal financial situation “excellent” or “good.” When asked again at
9
the end of 2011, the ratings of young and middle-aged adults

The Recession’s
had fallen dramatically, while the ratings for older adults were
Impact on Personal
virtually unchanged.7 Finances
% rating their personal financial
Youthful Optimism situation “excellent” or “good”
18-34 35-64 65+

Recent economic hardship has not dampened the spirits of
54
America’s young adults. Though they have struggled to find 50 52 50
jobs and make ends meet, they maintain a sense of optimism
33 35
about their financial future.
Most young adults (68%), whether they are employed or not,

don’t feel they have the resources now to lead the kind of life
they want. But among those who are dissatisfied with their 2004 2011
current income, the vast majority are optimistic that in the
Source: Pew Research Center for the
future they will have enough to live comfortably. People & the Press, Aug. 5-10, 2004,
and Dec. 7-11, 2011.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Fully nine-in-ten young adults (89%) who are employed but say
they don’t earn enough money to lead the kind of life they want
believe they will earn enough in the future.
Only 10% expect that they will not. Among Times Are Tough, but the Future
young adults who are not working and say they Looks Bright
don’t currently have enough income, 75% are % of 18- to 34-year-olds who don’t have enough
confident they will have enough income in the income now …
future (18% believe they won’t). But will in the future

And won't in the future
Not only are young adults optimistic about 89

Employed
their own future, but they also believe their
10
children will be better off when they reach
young adulthood. Among those ages 18 to 34, 75
Not employed
60% expect that when their children reach a 18
comparable age their standard of living will
Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808.
exceed the standard of living their parents
PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q15, 17
enjoy now. Among those ages 35 and older,
only 43% have such high hopes for their
7
Data from 2004 and 2011 are from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The 2004 survey
was conducted Aug. 5-10 among 1,512 adults nationwide; the 2011 survey was conducted Dec. 7-11 among 1,521 adults.
10
children’s future. More than a quarter of those 35 and older (27%) believe their children’s
standard of living will actually be worse than theirs is now.
For the most part, what young adults value in life mirrors the values of middle-aged and older
adults—family comes first, career comes second. More than half (54%) of those ages 18 to 34
say being a good parent is one of the most important things in their life; 53% of those ages 35
and older say the same. Roughly one-third of young adults (34%) say having a successful
marriage is one of the most important things in their life, as do 37% of those 35 and older.
Young women value family and marriage significantly more than young men do. And young
whites place more value on marriage than do young blacks.
Young Adults in the Workplace Vulnerable Young

Workers
While jobs are harder to come by for today’s young adults, % of workers 18-34 saying they
are “extremely” or “very”
those who are employed are relatively happy with their work.
confident they could find a job if
Nearly one-third (31%) of workers ages 18 to 34 are completely they lost or left their current job
satisfied with their job, and 53% more are somewhat satisfied.
65
Job satisfaction among young workers is roughly the same as it
was in the mid-1990s and remains somewhat lower than
43
satisfaction among workers 35 and older.8
25
While young workers are relatively satisfied with their job, the
recession may have shaken their confidence in their ability to
find another job. In 1998, amid single-digit unemployment
among the young, 65% of workers ages 18 to 34 said they were 1998 2009 2011
extremely or very confident that they could find another job if Note: Based on employed adults ages
18-34, n=550 for 2011. Data for 2009
they lost or wanted to leave their current job. By 2009, the are from a survey conducted by
Rutgers Univ.; 1998 data are from a
share who were extremely or very confident had plummeted to Rutgers/Univ. of Connecticut survey.
25%. Young workers’ attitudes have rebounded somewhat since PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q25
then. In the current survey, 43% express a high level of

confidence that if necessary they could find a new job.9
8
A 1994 Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll showed that among workers ages 18 to 34, 38% were completely satisfied with their job
and 50% were somewhat satisfied. Among workers ages 35 and older, 40% were completely satisfied and 45% were somewhat
satisfied.
9
Data for 1998 are from a survey conducted by Rutgers University and the University of Connecticut, Aug. 5-16, 1998, among
1,001 adults nationwide. Data for 2009 are from a survey conducted by Rutgers University Nov. 5-15, 2009 among 652 adults
nationwide. In both years the sample included those employed full time or part time and those unemployed but looking for work.
11
When asked what they value more in a job—security or a high salary—workers of all ages opt
for job security. By 56% to 41%, workers ages 18 to 34 say, all other things being equal, they
would prefer a job that offers better job security over a higher-paying job. A similar share of
older workers prefer better job security over salary (59% to 34%).
Most young workers (69%) do not view their

current job as a career—30% say it is a Young Adults Transitioning from
steppingstone to a career, and 39% say it is just Job to Career
a job for them to get by. Only three-in-ten Among employed, % saying their current job is …
describe their current job as a career.
Career Steppingstone to career Just a job
Throughout young adulthood, there is a steady

All 18-34 30 30 39
progression from job to career. Among the
youngest workers (ages 18 to 24), only 11% say
they are currently in a career. Workers ages 25
to 29 are three times as likely as their younger 18-24 11 37 52
counterparts to say they are in a career (34%).
And among workers ages 30 to 34, nearly half 25-29 34 36 30
view their current job as a career. In this
regard, they are no different from workers ages 30-34 49 18 33
35 and older, 52% of whom consider their job

Note: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550. “Don’t
as a career. know/Refused” responses not shown.
Among all workers ages 18 to 34, those with a

college degree are among the most likely to see
their current job as a career: 49% view their occupation as a career, while only 17% say it’s just
a job to get them by. Young workers who are still enrolled in school are among the least likely
to view their job as a career (only 13% do). However, that will presumably change once they
have completed their education. Among those young workers who do not have a college degree
and are not enrolled in school, fully half (49%) say they think of their current job as just a job
to get them by, and only one-in-four (27%) say it’s a career. This group of workers may feel
particularly vulnerable in today’s economy. Though they are not pursuing a college degree,
61% say they need more education and training in order to get ahead in their job.
12
About the Report
The reminder of this report is organized as follows: Chapter 2 provides a look at trends in the
labor market over the past two decades. Relying mainly on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, employment trends are broken down by detailed age categories. Chapter 3 looks at
the impact the recession has had on young adults—both generally and in more specific terms.
Chapter 4 looks at young adults’ optimism in the face of economic challenges and explores
their goals for the future. Chapter 5 provides a look inside the work lives of young adults.
13
Chapter 2: Young Adults in the U.S. Labor Market
The U.S. labor market is still struggling to recover from the effects of the Great Recession. The
recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009,10 but the national
unemployment rate continued to rise, peaking at 9.6% annually in 2010. Employment is
recovering slowly, with the level in 2011 still 6 million fewer than the level in 2007.11 The long
shelf life of the economic downturn has pressed upon the economic well-being of virtually all
workers, with the youngest adults (ages 18 to 24) among those most affected.12
In the past decade—and especially since 2007—young adults (ages 18 to 24) have faced a
difficult job market. The unemployment rate for young adults is almost double the overall rate.
Over the past two years a smaller share of the young adult
population has been employed than at any time since 1948, the
Unemployment Rate,
first year these data became available, and a growing share has
by Age, 2011
left the labor market. Moreover, the Great Recession had a
%
more severe impact on the earnings of young adults than on
16.3
those of any other age group.
Adults ages 25 to 34 have also encountered a tough labor

10.3
market in the past decade. However, the recession did not harm 8.8 8.6
their employment prospects or affect their earnings as much as 7.0
it did for the youngest adults. Overall, trends in employment
and earnings for adults ages 25 to 34 have approximated the
trends for the broader workforce.
18-24 25-29 All 30-34 35-64

This chapter reports on labor market outcomes for young
Note: “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
adults and other workers grouped by age. The focus is on trends
Source: Tabulated by the Pew
for people ages 18 to 64 over the past two decades and on the Research Center from data published
by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
changes wrought by the Great Recession. We omit 16- and 17-
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
year-olds and people 65 and older from the analysis because of
their limited engagement with the labor market.13
10
Business cycle dates are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER),
http://www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html.
11
These statistics on the unemployment rate and the employment level are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and
encompass people 16 and older.
12
A 2010 report by the Pew Research Center examined the impact of the Great Recession on demographic subgroups. See “How
the Great Recession Has Changed Life in America,” Social & Demographic Trends, June 30, 2010.
13
The Pew Research Center published a report in 2009 that focused on older Americans in the labor market. See “The Recession
Turns a Graying Office Grayer,” Social & Demographic Trends, Sep. 3, 2009.
14
The Unemployment Rate
In 2011, the unemployment

rate among 18- to 24-year- Unemployment Rate, by Age, 1990-2011
olds was 16.3%. That was six 20%
percentage points higher
than the rate for 25- to 29-
year-olds (10.3%) and nearly 18-24
eight points higher than the 15
rate for those ages 3o to 34

(8.6%). The unemployment
rate comprises workers who 25-29
10
are not currently working but All
are actively looking for work 30-34
as a share of the total labor 35-64
force: those with a job or 5

actively looking for one.
Overall, the unemployment
rate for 18- to 64-year-olds
0
was 8.8% in 2011.
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
Notes: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
Unemployment rates for all
age groups rise and fall with Bureau of Labor Statistics.
the business cycle in similar PEW RESEARCH CENTER
fashion. It is clear, however,

that the youngest adults are
set apart from other age groups with consistently high unemployment rates. In the past two
decades, through three recessions and a record-long period of economic growth, the
unemployment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds was typically four percentage points or more higher
than the rate for 25- to 29-year-olds. It was higher still in comparison with other age groups.
For most age groups, unemployment rates peaked in 2010 at the highest levels since 1948.14
14
A slight exception occurs in the case of 25- to 29-year-old workers. Their unemployment in 2010—10.9%—was slightly below
their 11.0% unemployment rate in 1982.
15
The Employment Rate

Percentage Change in
Employment-to-
The employment rate, also known as the employment-to- Population Ratio, by
population ratio, is the share of the population that is working. Age, 2007-2011
During the Great Recession, the employment rate for young %
adults fell more than for any other age group. Just over half of
35-64 -6
18- to 24-year-olds (54.3%) were employed in 2011, compared
with 62.4% in 2007, a 13% decrease.15 The current employment 30-34 -7
rate, along with a nearly identical one in 2010 (54.0%), marked
All -7
the lowest employment-to-population ratio for young adults
25-29 -8
since 1948.16
18-24 -13
The employment rate is a general indicator of the labor
Note: “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
market’s job-creating capacity. Other age groups also Source: Tabulated by the Pew
Research Center from data published
experienced declines in their employment rates with the onset by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
of the recession, but not as much as the decline for young PEW RESEARCH CENTER
adults. From 2007 to 2011, the employment rate of 25- to 29-

year-olds fell 8% and the employment rate of 30- to 34-year-
olds fell 7%. The employment rate of 35- to 64-year-olds decreased by 6% during that period.17
The relatively sharp decline in the employment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds predates the
recession. From 2000 to 2007, their employment rate fell from 67.3% to 62.4%, a 7% drop.
That decrease again was much higher than the decrease for any other age group.
An increase in high school and college enrollment is one reason that fewer young adults are on
the job today. In 2011, 45.2% of 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in high school or college—a
large increase from 1990, when only about three-in-ten young adults (31.3%) were pursuing
education. Since students are less likely to seek employment than adults who are not in school,
some of the employment rate decline among young adults reflects their increased pursuit of
formal schooling.
But the Great Recession broadly reduced the employment rate of young adults regardless of
whether they were in school. The share of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in high school or college
15
The decrease represents the size of the change as a percent of the original value. In this case, employment fell by 8.1
percentage points, which is 13% of the original rate (62.4%). Throughout this section, rate changes are presented in terms of
percent change rather than the percentage point change.
16
The employment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds peaked at 67.6% in 1989.
17
Adults 65 and older experienced an increase in their employment rate. That trend began about a decade ago and persisted
through the recession because of delayed retirement among older workers.
16
who were employed dropped

Employment-to-Population Ratio, by Age,
from 47.6% in 2007 to 40.7% 1990-2011
in 2011. Among young adults
90 %
not enrolled in high school or
college, the employment rate 85
fell from 73.2% in 2007 to

80
65.0% in 2011. Thus, there
was an across-the-board 75 30-34
25-29
decrease in the employment 70 35-64
All
rate of young adults, a trend
65
that was given a further push
downward with the increased 60
enrollment of young adults
55
in educational institutions. 18-24
50
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
Note: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Share of Population of 18- to 24- Employment-to-Population Ratio

Year-Olds Enrolled in School or by School Enrollment, Ages 18 to
College, 1990-2011 24, 2007-2011
50% %
45
45 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
73 71
40 66 64 65
35 48 47
31 43 41 41
30
25
20
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
Not enrolled in Enrolled in school/college
Note: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. school/college
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of Current Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of Current
Population Survey data. Population Survey data.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER PEW RESEARCH CENTER
17
Labor Force Participation
The labor force, an indicator

Labor Force Participation Rate, by Age,
of the supply of workers,
1990-2011
includes people on the job or
90 %
actively looking for one.
Labor force participation
tends to rise with emerging 85
job opportunities during 30-34

economic expansions and to 80
25-29
fall with waning employment

prospects during recessions. 35-64
75 All
Young adults, many of whom

are enrolled in school or 70
college, generally participate

in the labor force at a lower 65 18-24
rate than adults 25 and older.
Partly driven by the ongoing
60
rise in school enrollments, 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
the labor supply of 18- to 24- Notes: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. “All” refers to ages 18 to 64.
year-olds fell more than any Source: Tabulated by the Pew Research Center from data published by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
other age group during the PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Great Recession.
The labor force participation rate among young adults shrank from 69.0% in 2007 to 64.9% in
2011, a decrease of 6%. The drop in labor participation for 25- to 29-year-olds was more
modest, from 83.1% in 2007 to 81.1% in 2011. For 30- to 34-year-olds, the labor force
participation rate decreased from 83.6% to 81.9% during this period.
18
Weekly Earnings
Percentage Change in
Real Median Weekly
The Great Recession harmed not only the employment
Earnings, by Age,
prospects of workers, but also their paycheck. Young adults, 2007-2011
who are typically at the start of their career and earnings
%
ladder, also experienced the greatest drop in weekly earnings as
a result of the recession. It is possible that employers 35-64 1
constrained the wages of entry-level jobs more than they did for 30-34 -0.1
other jobs during the recession.
25-29 -0.1
In 2011, the median weekly earnings of 18- to 24-year-olds who 18-24 -6
worked full time were $448. That figure was 6.1% less than Note: Figures adjusted to 2011 dollars
and refer to the earnings of full-time
their median earnings of $477 in 2007. Workers ages 25 to 29 workers. The self-employed are
excluded.
and ages 30 to 34 experienced no change in their wages. For
Source: Pew Research Center
25- to 29-year-olds who worked full time, median weekly tabulations of Current Population
Survey data, annual outgoing rotation
earnings were $651 in 2007 and $650 in 2011. The earnings of files.
30- to 34-year-olds were $751 in 2007 and $750 in 2011. (All PEW RESEARCH CENTER
earnings figures are expressed in 2011 dollars.)
Median Real Weekly Earnings, by Age,

1990-2011
$1,000
900
35-64
800
30-34
700
25-29
600
500
18-24
400
300
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011
Notes: Shaded areas represent economic downturns. Figures adjusted to 2011
dollars and refer to earnings of full-time workers. The self-employed are excluded.
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of Current Population Survey data,

outgoing rotation files.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
19
CHAPTER 3: HOW TODAY’S ECONOMY IS AFFECTING YOUNG

ADULTS
Recent economic times have been particularly hard on young Young Adults Hardest
adults. The economic data illustrate this, especially with regard Hit
to the labor market. And the public recognizes it. When asked All things considered, which age
which age group is having a harder time in today’s economy, a group is having a tougher time in
today’s economy …?
plurality of Americans (41%) say young adults are struggling
the most. Roughly three-in-ten (29%) say middle-aged adults
are having the toughest time, and 24% point to older
Americans. 24%
41%
Older
Young
Opinion about this is fairly consistent across major adults
adults
demographic groups. Men and women agree that young people
29%
are suffering the most from today’s tough economic times.
Middle-aged
Whites and blacks are also largely in agreement—with adults
pluralities of both groups saying young people are having the
hardest time.
Note: Based on all adults, N=2,048.
“All equal” and “Don’t know/Refused”
More affluent adults and those with higher levels of education responses are shown but not labeled.
are among the most likely to say that young people are PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q9
struggling in today’s economy. Nearly half (48%) of college

graduates say young adults are having the hardest time these
days. This compares with 37% of those whose educational attainment is a high school diploma
or less. Similarly, adults with annual household incomes of $75,000 or higher are much more
likely than those making less than that to say young people have been hit harder than their
older counterparts (52% vs. 37%, respectively).
Young adults themselves have a very clear sense that they have suffered more than other age
groups as a result of the nation’s recent economic struggles. Fully 55% of those ages 18 to 24
say young adults are having the toughest time in today’s economy. Roughly one-in-four (26%)
say middle-aged adults have had a tougher time, and only 17% say older adults have struggled
most.
20
The views of those ages 25 to 34 are somewhat

different than their younger counterparts: 44% Youngest Adults Feeling their Own
say young adults are having the hardest time in Pain
today’s economy. Middle-aged Americans are % saying each group is having a tougher time in
today’s economy, by age
among the least likely to say young people have
been hardest hit by economic hard times. Still, 18-24 25-34 35-49 50+
pluralities in most age groups acknowledge
that young adults have been hit 55
disproportionately hard. Young adults 44
having a
32
tougher time
41
The Day-to-Day Realities of
26
Economic Hard Times Middle-aged 29
adults having
a tougher time 35
Many young adults have felt the impact of the 28
recession and sluggish recovery in tangible 17
ways. Fully half (49%) of those ages 18 to 34 Older adults 21
having a
say that because of economic conditions over tougher time
28
24
the past few years, they have taken a job they
didn’t really want just to pay the bills. More Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. “All equal” and “Don’t
than a third (35%) say they have gone back to know/Refused” responses not shown.

school because of the bad economy. And one-
in-four (24%) say they have taken an unpaid
job to gain work experience.
For some, tough economic times have had an impact on their personal life as well. Roughly a
quarter of adults ages 18 to 34 (24%) say that, due to economic conditions, they have moved
back in with their parents in recent years after living on their own. Among those ages 25 to 29,
the share moving back home rises to 34%. Most adults under age 25 are enrolled in school at
least part time (46% are full-time students). By age 25, the majority are out of school, but jobs
and housing can be hard to come by, and many “boomerang” back home.
More than one-in-five young adults ages 18 to 34 (22%) say they have postponed having a baby
because of the bad economy. Roughly the same proportion (20%) say they have postponed
getting married.
21
There are some significant differences in the How Economic Conditions Have
impact of the recession among young adults by Affected Young Adults’ Lives
race, particularly in the areas of education and % of 18- to 34-year-olds saying they have done each
employment. The economic data show that in recent years because of economic conditions
young blacks have an even higher
unemployment rate than do young whites or Taken a job just to
49
young Hispanics. And even for young blacks pay the bills
who are working, their employment situation Gone back to

35
school
may not be highly satisfying. More than six-in-
ten (62%) blacks ages 18 to 34 say in recent Taken an unpaid
24
job
years they have taken a job they didn’t really
want just to pay the bills. This compares with Moved back in 24
with parents
47% of whites in the same age group and 54%
Postponed having
of Hispanics. a baby 22
Postponed getting
Young blacks are also more likely to report that 20
married
they have gone back to school because of hard
economic times. Half of the young blacks
surveyed say they have returned to school in PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q29
recent years, compared with 32% of young

whites and 36% of Hispanics.
The Recession’s Impact, by Race
Young whites and Hispanics are more than % of 18- to 34-year-olds saying they have done each
twice as likely as young blacks to say they have
moved back in with their parents after living White Black Hispanic
on their own because of economic conditions.
47
Among those ages 18 to 34, 26% of whites and Taken a job just 62
to pay the bills
29% of Hispanics say they have moved back 54
home, compared with 13% of blacks. Gone back to
32
school 50
36
Young Hispanics are more likely than young
26
whites to say they have postponed getting Moved back in
13
with parents
married because of the economy. 29
17
Postponed
getting married 23
While race and ethnicity seem to have divided 28
young adults in terms of the impact of the
recession, there are very few differences along
gender lines. Men suffered much greater job
22
losses than women during the recession. However, the current survey finds that the impact of
recent economic conditions has been fairly equal on young men and young women. Among
those ages 18 to 34, men and women are equally likely to report that, in recent years due to
economic conditions, they have taken a job they really didn’t want just to pay the bills. Similar
shares say they have gone back to school (35% of young men and 36% of women). And they are
equally likely to say they have moved back in with their parents and postponed marriage and
childbirth.
There is one significant difference between young men and young women. While 30% of men
ages 18 to 34 say they have taken an unpaid job to gain experience in recent years, only 18% of
young women say they have done the same.
When it comes to marriage and family, young adults without a college education are among the
most likely to say economic conditions have affected their plans. Among those ages 18 to 34
who are not college graduates and are not currently enrolled in school, nearly three-in-ten
(28%) say they have put off getting married and an equal proportion say they have put off
having a baby because of the economy. Among young adults who graduated from college or are
currently enrolled in school, only about half as many say the same.
The Challenges Facing

Today’s Young Adults Times Are Tougher for Today’s Young Adults
% saying … is harder/easier/about the same for today’s young adults than
There seems to be a near it was for their parents’ generation
consensus among the public

Harder Easier Same
that today’s young adults
face greater challenges than Finding a job 82 5 12
their parents did in reaching
Saving for future 75 7 18
some of the most basic
economic benchmarks. Paying for college 71 12 15
Strong majorities of the
Buying a home 69 15 15
public say it’s harder for
young adults today to find a Getting into college 41 33 25
job, save for the future, pay Finding a spouse 37 20 40

for college or buy a home
Staying in in
Staying touch
touch
18 62 19
than it was for their parents’ with
withfamily/friends
family/friends
generation.
Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. “Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
23
Among adults of all ages, 82% say it’s harder for today’s young adults to find a job than it was
for their parents’ generation. Only 5% say it’s easier now to find a job, and 12% say finding a
job is about the same as it was a generation ago.
Three-out-of-four adults say it’s harder for young people to save for the future today than it
was for their parents. And seven-in-ten (69%) say it’s harder for today’s young adults to buy a
home.
Paying for college is also viewed as a greater challenge today than it was in the past. Fully 71%
of all adults say it’s harder for today’s young people to pay for college than it was for their
parents’ generation. When it comes to getting into college, views are more mixed. Four-in-ten
adults (41%) say it’s harder for young people to get into college today than it was a generation
ago. However, one-third say it’s easier today, and 25% say it’s about the same as it was for their
parents’ generation.
The public sees fewer challenges for today’s Young Women See Greater
Challenges
adults in two areas outside of the economic
% of 18- to 34-year-olds saying … is harder for
realm. Only 37% of all adults say it’s harder for
today’s young adults than it was for their parents’
today’s young people to find a spouse or generation
partner compared with their parents’
Men Women
generation. One-in-five say it’s easier for
74
today’s young adults, and 40% say it’s the same Finding a job
83
as it was for their parents’ generation. When it
comes to keeping in touch with friends and 68
Saving for future
77
family, most adults (62%) say it’s easier for
today’s young people to stay connected than it 65
Buying a home
was for their parents. Only 18% say it’s harder 74
to keep in touch these days, and 19% say it’s Getting into 32
college
about the same. 41
Finding a spouse 24
Young and older adults tend to agree that, 41
from an economic perspective, things are
harder for those just starting out today than
they were a generation ago. Adults ages 35 and
older are even more likely than those ages 18 to
34 to say it’s harder for young people to find a job today than it was for their parents’
generation (84% vs. 79%). Middle-aged and older adults are also more likely than their
younger counterparts to say it’s harder for today’s young people to get into and pay for college.
24
The cost of college has roughly tripled since 1980, and this burden often falls to the parents.
This may help explain why parents of children ages 18 and older are even more likely than
young adults themselves to say that paying for college is harder for young adults today than it
was for their own generation.18
While young men and young women generally agree that they face greater economic
challenges than their parents did, women provide an even more negative assessment than do
men. Among those ages 18 to 34, women are more likely than men to say finding a job is
harder for today’s young adults than it was for their parents’ generation (83% vs. 74%). They
are also more likely to say it’s harder for today’s young adults to save for the future (77% vs.
68%). Similarly, more young women than men say it’s harder to buy a home and harder to get
into college than it was a generation ago.
The biggest gap between men and women involves personal life rather than finances. While
41% of women ages 18 to 34 say finding a spouse or partner is harder for today’s young adults
than it was for their parents’ generation, only 24% of young men agree.
Coming of Age in Challenging Times
One possible byproduct of the economic challenges today’s young adults face may be shifting
societal norms about when adulthood begins. When asked in a 1993 survey what age children
should be financially independent from their
parents, 80% of parents said children have to When Does Adulthood Begin?
be self-reliant by age 22. In the current survey, Later than It Used To, Parents Say
only 67% of parents say children have to be % of parents saying children have to be financially
financially independent by age 22—a drop of independent by age …
13 percentage points. 22 or younger 25 or older
Looking at the responses among all adults, 2011 67 31
regardless of parental status, a clear age

pattern emerges. A solid majority of young 1993 80 18
adults (66%) believe children should be

Notes: Based on parents with children age 16 or younger.
financially independent by age 22, including For 2011, n=577. Data for 1993 are from a poll conducted
by Newsweek and PSRA April 25-May 4, 1993. “Don’t
23% who say they should be supporting know/Refused” responses not shown.
themselves by age 18. By contrast, among PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q28
those ages 50 and older, only 44% say children
18
For further analysis of the rising cost of higher education, see “Is College Worth It? College Presidents, Public Assess Value,
Quality and Mission of Higher Education,” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, May 15, 2011.
25
have to be financially independent by age 22,

Different Perspectives on Coming
while a narrow majority (53%) says they
of Age
needn’t be independent until age 25 or older.
% saying children have to be financially independent
On this issue, the views of adults ages 35 to 49 from their parents by age …
are much closer to those of their younger
22 or younger 25 or older
counterparts than to those ages 50 and older.19
Younger adults say… 66 32
Being a parent of a young adult is also strongly
correlated with views about when adulthood Older adults say… 44 53
begins. Among those with children ages 18 or
Parents w/children 18+
older, less than half (46%) say children need to 46 51
say…
be financially independent from their parents
Note: “Younger adults” are those ages 18-34 (n=808);
by age 22, while 51% say they don’t need to be “older adults” are those ages 50 and older (n=641); for
parents with children 18+, n=856. “Don’t know/Refused”
independent until age 25 or older. responses not shown.
Young Adults and Personal Finances
In spite of the economic challenges young

Older Adults More Satisfied with
people face, they are happy with their lives
Personal Finances
overall. One-third of those ages 18 to 34 say
% saying they are … with their personal financial
they are very happy with the way things are situation
going in their life and an additional 55% say
they are pretty happy. Young adults register Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied
somewhat higher levels of happiness than do

18-34 20 43
their older counterparts, but they still find
certain aspects of adult life difficult.
35-49 24 42
When it comes to their personal financial

50-64 29 32
situation, young adults are somewhat less
satisfied than middle-aged and older adults.
65+ 37 33
Overall, 63% of those ages 18 to 34 say they are
satisfied with their personal finances; however,
Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. “Somewhat
only 20% are very satisfied. A similar share dissatisfied,” “Very dissatisfied,” and “Don’t know/Refused”
responses not shown.
(24%) of those ages 35 to 49 are very satisfied
with their personal finances, and the share
19
The question wording was as follows. “At about what age do you think children today should have to be financially independent
from their parents? Would you say by age 18, age 22, age 25, age 30, or never?”
26
among those ages 50 to 64 is slightly higher (29%). Adults ages 65 and older are more satisfied
than any other age group with their financial circumstances: 37% are very satisfied, and 33%
are somewhat satisfied. The gap between the youngest and the oldest adults has grown wider
in recent years. In February 2009, 21% of those ages 18 to 34 said they were very satisfied with
their financial situation, compared with 31% of those ages 65 and older.20
In a similarly worded question asked in 2004, before the The Recession’s

recession began, there was no gap between young adults and Impact on Personal
older adults in their assessments of their personal finances. Finances
Equal shares (50%) of adults ages 18 to 34 and those ages 65 % rating their personal financial
situation “excellent” or “good”
and older rated their personal financial situation as excellent or
good. A separate Pew Research poll in December 2011 showed 18-34 35-64 65+
that a sizable gap (21% points) had emerged between older
54
adults and young adults—only a third of those ages 18 to 34 50 52 50
said they were in excellent or good financial shape, compared

33 35
with more than half (54%) of those ages 65 and older. In the
2011 survey, older adults stood out in this regard, as middle-
aged adults were closer to young adults in their assessments of
their personal financial situation.
2004 2011
Not surprisingly, educational attainment and job satisfaction
are linked to assessments of personal finances for all adults. Source: Pew Research Center for the
People & the Press, Aug. 5-10, 2004
College graduates are much more likely than those who have and Dec. 7-11, 2011.
not graduated from college to say they are very satisfied with PEW RESEARCH CENTER
their personal financial situation. Among adults ages 18 to 34,

29% of those who have graduated from college say they are very
satisfied with their financial situation. This compares with 19% of those who are currently
enrolled in school and 17% who did not graduate from college and are not currently enrolled.
Job satisfaction is also highly correlated with satisfaction with personal finances. Among
young adults who are employed, 42% of those who say they are completely satisfied with their
current job are also very satisfied with their personal financial situation. Among those who say
they are somewhat satisfied with their job, only 15% are very satisfied with their financial
situation.
20
Data from 2009 are from a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, Feb. 23-Mar.
23, 2009, among 2,969 adults nationwide.
27
Beyond Finances: Family Life, Housing and Education
Young adulthood is often marked by several major life transitions. Some young adults are still
finishing their education, some are living on their own for the first time and some are starting
their own families. Although the lives of many are not entirely settled, most young adults say
they are highly satisfied with their family life. Nearly half are very satisfied with their present
housing situation and with their education.
Adults of all ages are highly satisfied with their

Young Adults Less Satisfied with
family life. Seven-in-ten adults ages 18 to 34 Housing, Education
(71%) say they are very satisfied with this
% saying they are very satisfied with their …
aspect of their life. Among those ages 35 to 49,
50 to 64 and 65 and older, nearly as many say 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
the same.
71
Age is much more strongly related to 69
Family life
69
satisfaction with living arrangements. This is
68
not surprising, given that roughly a quarter of
47
those ages 18 to 34 live with their parents,
56
more than four-in-ten rent, and less than one- Housing situation
63
in-four own their own homes. Among adults 68
under age 35, only 47% say they are very 40
satisfied with their present housing situation. 46
Education*
This compares with 62% among those ages 35 54
66
and older.
Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. *Percentages for
The gap in views about housing was not nearly education are based on those not currently enrolled in
school.
as wide in 1996. Among those ages 18 to 34, PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q2
50% said they were very satisfied with their
housing situation. Young adults were not
markedly different from middle-aged adults in their regard—53% of those ages 35 to 49 said
they were very satisfied with their housing situation. Among those ages 50 and older,
satisfaction was significantly higher (65% for those ages 50 to 64 and 67% for those ages 65
and older).21
21
Data for 1996 are from a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 1996,
among 1,204 adults nationwide.
28
Young adults are less satisfied overall with their education when compared to their older
counterparts. Granted, many of them have not yet completed their education. However, even
among those ages 18 to 34 who are not currently enrolled in school, only four-in-ten say they
are very satisfied with their education. This compares with roughly half (52%) of those ages 35
to 64 and 66% of those ages 65 and older.
College graduates of all ages are much more satisfied with their education than are those who
have not completed college. Fully 71% of those under age 35 with a college degree say they are
very satisfied with their education. Roughly half (52%) of young adults who are currently
enrolled in school say they are very satisfied, and only 29% of those who are not enrolled and
do not have a college degree say the same.
29
CHAPTER 4: OPTIMISM IN THE FACE OF TOUGH TIMES
Despite the Great Recession and the sluggish recovery that followed, young adults remain
extremely confident about their financial future. While a large majority of those ages 18 to 34
(whether they are employed or not) say they do
not currently have enough money to lead the
kind of life they want, most believe they will Young Adults Optimistic about
Future Earnings
eventually attain that goal.
% saying they …
According to the new Pew Research survey, Earn/have enough now

only 31% of all young adults say they now have Don't earn/have enough now, will in future
enough income to lead the kind of life they
want. However, an additional 57% say that 18-34 31 57 9
while they don’t have enough money now, they
think they will in the future. Only one-in-ten
35-64 47 22 27
(9%) say they don’t have enough now to lead
the kind of life they want and don’t believe they
65+ 61 3 29
ever will.22
Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. The analysis combines

Middle-aged and older adults are more the results of four questions. Employed adults were asked if
they “earn enough money” to lead the kind of life they want;
satisfied than young adults with the resources respondents who were not employed were asked if they
they have now. But the share that is pessimistic “have enough income” to lead the kind of life they want.
about their financial future is three times as PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q14, 15, 16, 17
high among the older age groups. Nearly half

of those ages 35 to 64—prime earning years—
say they currently have enough income to lead the kind of life they want. While 22% say they
don’t have enough now but believe they will in the future, fully 27% say they don’t have enough
now and don’t think they will in the future.
Among adults 65 and older, most of whom are no longer working, 61% say they have enough
income now to lead the kind of life they want. For those who say they don’t currently have
enough income, the vast majority don’t anticipate this changing in the future: 29% say they
don’t have enough money now and they won’t in the future. Only 3% say they think they will
have enough money in the future.
22
This analysis combines two separate sets of questions. Employed adults were asked whether they “earn enough money” to lead
the kind of life they want, and if not, whether they thought they would be able to earn enough in the future. Adults who were not
employed were asked whether they “have enough income” to lead the kind of life they want, and if not, whether they thought
they would have enough income in the future.
30
While the recession affected many dimensions

of economic life—wages, retirement savings, Youthful Optimism in Wake of
home values, debt—public attitudes about Recession
future earning potential have remained % of 18- to 34-year-olds saying they …
remarkably stable. A 2004 Pew Research Earn/have enough now
survey asked the same series of questions of Don't earn/have enough now, will in future
both employed and unemployed adults: Did
they earn enough money or have enough 2011 31 57 9
income to lead the kind of life they wanted,
and, if not, did they think they would be able to
2004 41 43 10
earn enough money in the future?23
Notes: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808 for 2011. Data

Overall, young adults were more satisfied with for 2004 are from a survey conducted by the Pew Research
Center for the People & the Press, May 3-9, 2004.
their earnings or income in 2004 than they are PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q14, 15, 16, 17
today (41% said they had enough income to
lead the kind of life they wanted versus 31%
now). This is not surprising, given the significant falloff in jobholding among the youngest
adults. Still, for the majority who did not have enough income in 2004, most said they
expected to have enough in the future. Only 10% said they didn’t think they ever would
(compared with 9% now).
Roughly half of those ages 35 to 64 (51%) said they had enough income in 2004. Among those
who said they didn’t have enough, the balance of opinion about the future was more negative
than positive. And, just as is the case today, a solid majority of older adults said they had
enough income to lead the kind of life they wanted. Three-in-ten said they did not have enough
income or earn enough money, and most in that group didn’t think their situation would
improve.
The consistent trend in opinion, in spite of the turbulent economic conditions during the
intervening years, suggests that optimism is related more to the stage of life than to the
dynamics of the national economy.
23
Data for 2004 are from a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, May 3-9, 2004, among
1,800 adults nationwide (for 18- to 34-year-olds, n=464).
31
Optimism in Spite of Frustration In Good Times and Bad, No

with Earnings, Income Change in Share Who Say They
Aren’t Earning Enough
While the share of young adults who are % of employed adults saying they do not earn enough
to lead the kind of life they want
employed has fallen sharply in recent years,
the way in which working young adults view 18-34 35 and older
66
63 62 62
their earnings has changed very little. In 1996,
52
at a time when the national economy was 48 48
43
thriving and many more young adults were
employed, 66% of 18- to 34-year-olds who
were working at least part time said they did
not earn enough money to lead the kind of life
they wanted.24 In 2011, roughly the same
1996 2001 2006 2011
proportion (62%) said they didn’t earn enough.
Note: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231 for 2011. All
trend data are from Pew Research Center surveys.
The gap between young workers and middle- PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q14
aged and older workers has remained stable

over this period. In 1996, 48% of workers ages 35 and older
said they did not earn enough to lead the kind of life they Young & Unemployed
wanted. In 2011, an identical share said the same. Struggling More
% of non-employed adults saying
they do not have enough income
The situation is much different for young adults who are not
to lead the kind of life they want
employed. In 2004, 56% of those ages 18 to 34 who were not
employed said they did not have enough income to lead the 18-34 35 and older
80
kind of life they wanted. By 2011, 80% of this group reported
that they did not have enough income to lead the kind of life 56 58
they wanted—an increase of 24 percentage points from 2004. 45 48
40
Over that same period, the share of non-working adults ages 35

and older who said they did not have enough income increased
only slightly, from 45% to 48%. As a result, the gap between
2004 2006 2011
young non-employed adults and their older counterparts Note: Based on all adults not
employed, n=817 for 2011. All trend
increased significantly. data are from Pew Research Center
surveys.
24
Data for 1996, 2001 and 2004 are from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press (May 31-
June 9, 1996, Jan. 3-7, 2001 & May 3-9, 2004). Data for 2006 are from a Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends
survey conducted Oct. 18-Nov. 9, 2006.
32
The good news is that for both working and non-working young adults, frustration with
current earnings and income has not dampened their optimism about the future. Among those
ages 18 to 34 who are employed and say they are not currently earning enough to lead the kind
of life they want, fully 89% say they believe they will earn enough in the future.
Young adults who are not working are nearly Times Are Tough, but the Future
as optimistic—75% of those who say they don’t Looks Bright
have enough income to lead the kind of life % of 18- to 34-year-olds who don’t have enough
they want believe they will have enough money income now …
in the future. Less than one-in-five (18%) But will in the future
expect that they won’t have enough. And won't in the future
89
Employed
Older adults are not nearly as upbeat about
10
their future prospects. Among those ages 35
and older who are employed and are not 75
Not employed
currently making enough to lead the kind of
18
life they want, less than half (48%) expect they
will earn enough in the future. For those ages Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808.
35 and older who are not currently working, PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q15, 17
only 21% say the same.
Young Adults’ Optimism Extends Far

into the Future Young Adults Optimistic about
Their Children’s Future
Not only are young people optimistic about When your children are at the age you are now, will
their own financial futures, but they also are their standard of living be … than yours is now? (%)
confident that their children will be better off Better Same Worse
financially than they are now. In contrast,
older people are significantly less optimistic 18-34 60 21 14
that their children will fare better financially

than they have. According to the survey, six-in- 35+ 43 18 27
ten adults ages 18 to 34 expect their children to

Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. “No children” and
be doing better financially when they reach a “Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
comparable age, versus 43% of those 35 and PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q4
older.
However, these data also suggest that views begin to change around the time a young person
turns 30. Among those 18 to 29 years old, about two-thirds (65%) are optimistic about their
33
children’s financial future. But among those just slightly older, 30 to 34, less than half (46%)
are as hopeful.
These views of young people also vary by demographic group. Young women are significantly
more likely than young men to predict that their children will do better financially than they
have done (66% vs. 55%).
At the same time, minorities

Looking to the Future
are far more optimistic about
Among those ages 18-34, % saying when their children are at a
their children’s future than comparable age, their standard of living will be …
are whites. More than seven-
in-ten young blacks (71%)
Worse Better Same
and a slightly larger share of
Gender
young Hispanics (77%) Men 18 55 21
expect that their children will
Women 9 66 20
have a better standard of
Race/Ethnicity
living. In contrast, barely half
of all young whites (52%) are White 17 52 26
equally optimistic about their Black 7 71 17

children’s financial futures. Hispanic 10
9 77
Education
Young college graduates and
College grad 16 42 35
more affluent young adults
also are significantly less No degree, enrolled 14 67 17
hopeful that their children No degree, not enrolled 13 65 16

will do better financially than
Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808. Hispanics are of any race. Whites and
they have done. According to blacks include only non-Hispanics. “No children” and “Don’t know/Refused”
responses not shown.
the survey, only four-in-ten
college graduates ages 18 to
34 (42%) are optimistic that
their children will do better economically than they have. More than one-third (35%) expect
their children will do about the same as they have.
In contrast, about two-thirds of all those ages 18 to 34 who do not have a college degree (67%
of those enrolled in school and 65% of those not enrolled) are confident that their children will
surpass them.
34
Achieving their Goals
In spite of the optimism gap between young and old in looking at their financial future, when it
comes to meeting the broader goals in life, the generations have a similar outlook. Nearly
three-quarters (73%) of adults ages 18 to 34 are optimistic that they will eventually achieve
their goals in life or say they already have achieved them. A similar share of adults ages 35 and
older (70%) also say they expect to accomplish their goals or already have attained them.
Not surprisingly, older adults are more likely

than their younger counterparts to say they Little Worry about Reaching Goals
have already reached their goals (33% among % saying they are … that they will be able to achieve
those ages 35 and older versus 9% of those their goals
under age 35). A majority of young adults More worried More optimistic Already reached
(64%) say they are optimistic that they will be
NET Optimistic/
able to achieve their goals. Reached goals
18-34 25 64 9 73
What is surprising is that the share of each age
group saying they are worried that they will
35+ 26 37 33 70
face many difficulties that might prevent them
from achieving their goals is nearly identical.
In spite of their different stages in life, 25% of Notes: Based on all adults, N=2,048. “Some of both” and
those ages 18 to 34 and 26% of those ages 35 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q5
and older say they are more worried than
optimistic about their future.
The belief among the young that they will achieve their life goals varies only slightly, if at all,
among key demographic groups. Young men are just as likely as young women to say they
expect to fulfill their ambitions (65% vs. 63%). Roughly six-in-ten young whites (62%) and a
slightly larger share of young Hispanics (65%) are optimistic they will reach their goals, a view
shared by 70% of young blacks.
But the survey found that young adults ages 18 to 34 who did not graduate from college and
are not currently in school are the most concerned about falling short of their objectives. About
three-in-ten of these less educated young adults (31%) say they are more worried than
optimistic about accomplishing their goals in life, compared with 2o% of those who are either
college graduates or are still in school.
35
What Goals Are Most Important?

Importance of Family, Career
% saying each is “one of the most important things”
What types of goals are young people so
in their life
optimistic about? In putting value to the
different aspects of their lives, both young and 18-34 35+
older adults place more emphasis on parenting 54

Being a good parent
and marriage than on more material items, 53
such as a high-paying career or home

Having a successful 34
ownership. marriage
37
More than half (54%) of young adults ages 18 Having a job/career 22

that benefits society* 14
to 34 say being a good parent is “one of the
most important things” in their life, and an Owning your own 18
additional 39% say it is “very important but home 22
not the most.”
Being successful in a 15
high-paying career or
profession* 7
Over a third of young adults (34%) say having
a successful marriage is one of the most Becoming famous
1
important things, and 51% say it is very 1
important.
Note: Based on all adults, N=2,048. Asterisk items are split
form, with about half of the sample getting each question.
Similar shares of adults ages 35 and older say PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q7
these two items are of top importance—53% of

the older group says parenting is one of the most important things in their life (an additional
40% say this is very important). And 37% say having a successful marriage is one of the most
important things in their life (46% say very important).
Compared with marriage and parenting, young adults place relatively less importance on
career. Nevertheless, they are significantly more likely than older adults to say this is among
the most important aspects of their life. Nearly a quarter (22%) of 18- to 34-year-olds say
having a job that benefits society is one of the most important things in their life. Only 14% of
those ages 35 and older say the same. And while 15% of young adults say being successful in a
high-paying career is of utmost importance, less than half the share of older adults agrees
(7%).
There is no significant difference between young and older adults in terms of the importance of
owning their own home. Roughly one-in-five young adults (18%) and nearly the same share of
36
adults ages 35 and older (22%) say owning a home is one of the most important things in their
life.
In addition, there is no difference between young and older adults in the importance of
becoming famous—only 1% of each group says becoming famous is one of the most important
things in their life.
The youngest among the 18 to 34 age group are

even more career-focused than their older half. Young and Ambitious
More than three-quarters (76%) of 18- to 24- % saying each is one of the most important or a very
year-olds rate a high-paying career or important thing in their life
profession as one of the most important things One of the most important things
or very important, while 25- to 34-year-olds Very important, but not the most
are more moderate with 51% rating this so Being successful in a high-paying career or
profession ...
highly. Furthermore, 79% of 18- to 24-year-
olds say having a job or career that benefits 18-24 17 59
society is one of the most important things or

25-34 13 38
very important; 66% of 25- to 34-year-olds
agree.
Having a job or career that benefits society ...
Among young adults, several significant 18-24 29 50

demographic differences emerge. For example,
there is a gender split in the importance of 25-34 18 49
marriage and parenting. While 61% of young
women ages 18 to 34 list being a good parent Note: Based on adults ages 18-34. Items were asked of half
the sample. For first item, n=384; for second, n=424.
as one of the most important things in their PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q7
life, less than half of men (47%) say the same.
And while 39% of women rate a successful
marriage among their top priorities, only 29% of men place the same value on that.
37
Several differences also appear among racial

and ethnic categories of young adults. Family Importance, by Gender
Fully 37% of young white adults, compared % of 18- to 34-year-olds who say … is “one of the
most important things” in their life
with only 22% of young black adults, say a
successful marriage is one of the most Young men Young women
important things in their life. Hispanics lie in Being a 47

the middle and do not differ significantly from good parent
61
either group.
Having a successful 29
marriage 39
Compared with whites, greater shares of both
black and Hispanic young adults say owning Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808.
their own home is among their top priorities. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q7
While 25% of blacks and 26% of Hispanics say
owning a home is of the highest importance in
their lives, only 12% of whites say the same. Marriage and Homeownership, by
Race
Additionally, young blacks and Hispanics are % of 18- to 34-year-olds who say … is “one of the
more likely to value becoming famous than most important things” in their life
young white adults. Only 2% of whites ages 18 White Black Hispanic
to 34 say becoming famous is one of the most
37
important things or very important, but 15% of Having a successful
marriage 22
blacks and 13% of Hispanics rate fame as
30
highly important.
12
Owning your own
25
home
26
Note: Based on adults ages 18-34, n=808. Hispanics are of

any race. Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics.
38
CHAPTER 5: YOUNG ADULTS AT WORK
Satisfaction
Job Satisfaction, by Age
Among those employed
A majority of working adults, regardless of age,
say they are either completely or somewhat Completely satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
satisfied with their current job. Younger Dissatisfied
workers, ages 18 to 34, are a bit less likely than 18-34 31 53 16

those 35 years and older to say they are
completely satisfied; 31% of 18- to 34-year-old 35 and older 40 47 13
workers are completely satisfied, compared
with 40% among workers 35 years and older. Among those ages 18-34 ...
Gender
Job satisfaction is roughly the same among Men

35 46 18
both younger and older workers today as it was
in a 1994 Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll. Women 26 60 14
Gender differences among younger workers Education

are modest. Younger women are more likely
than younger men to describe themselves as College grad 37 46 16
“somewhat” satisfied with their job. Younger

No degree,
men are somewhat more likely than their 30 51 19
enrolled
younger women to say they are completely No degree,
not enrolled 26 58 15
satisfied with their job.
Employment
Those with college degrees tend to report
higher levels of job satisfaction, but the Full time 34 51 14
differences across education groups are
modest and do not reach levels of statistical Part time 23 55 20
significance.
Notes: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231. Those saying
“completely” or “somewhat” dissatisfied are combined.
As expected, young adults with full-time jobs “Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
are more likely than those with part-time jobs PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q11
to be completely satisfied with their work.
39
Among older workers, there

Career Orientation, Perceived Compensation
are no significant differences
Linked with Job Satisfaction
in job satisfaction levels by
Among those 18 to 34 years old who are employed
gender or full- and part-time
Completely Somewhat
employment status. satisfied satisfied Dissatisfied DK/Ref
% % % %
See current job as …
Career orientation is strongly
A career 50 45 5 *=100
associated with job
A steppingstone to
31 57 12 0=100
satisfaction among both career
Just a job to get by 15 56 28 1=100
younger and older workers.
Those ages 18 to 34 who see Compensation
their current position as a Feel paid enough 46 45 8 1=100
career are particularly likely Not paid enough 15 59 25 1=100
to report being completely Notes: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550. Those saying “completely” or
“somewhat” dissatisfied are combined. The asterisk (*) is a percentage greater than
satisfied with their job—50% 0 and less than 0.5%.
say this, compared with 31% PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q11, 12, Q23
among those who see their

job as a steppingstone and
15% among those working in a position that is “just a job.”
Further, those who think they are paid enough in their job given both the kind and amount of
work they do are also more likely than those who feel they don’t get paid enough to report
feeling completely satisfied. Among workers
ages 18 to 34 who feel they are paid enough,
46% report being completely satisfied in their Satisfaction with Chances for
current position. In contrast, just 15% of Advancement, by Age
younger workers who feel they are not paid Among those employed
enough say they are completely satisfied with Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
their current position. Dissatisfied
18-34 24 45 28
Outlook for Moving Up
35 and older 33 34 24
Workers of all ages tend to be at least
somewhat satisfied with their chances for
Notes: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231. Those saying
career advancement in their present position. “very” or “somewhat” dissatisfied are combined. “Don’t
know/Refused” responses not shown.
Younger workers ages 18 to 34 are less likely
than those 35 and older to be “very” satisfied
with their chances for advancement. While the
40
youngest workers, ages 18 to 24, are a bit more likely than other young workers to say they are
“somewhat” satisfied with their chances for advancement, differences by age in satisfaction
levels are modest overall.
Those who think of their

current position as a career Satisfaction with Chances for Advancement
tend to be more satisfied Among those 18 to 34 years old who are employed
with the opportunities for Very Somewhat Other/

satisfied satisfied Dissatisfied DK/REF
advancement than do those % % % %
who think of their job as 18-24 22 53 24 1=100
either a steppingstone to a 25-29 27 39 33 2=100
30-34 25 42 27 5=100
career or as just a job. About
four-in-ten (41%) workers See current job as …
ages 18 to 34 who see their A career 41 43 15 1=100
position as a career report A steppingstone to
career 25 43 30 1=100
being very satisfied with Just a job to get by 12 49 35 5=100
their chances for
advancement. By contrast, College grad 29 38 29 5=100
No degree, enrolled 21 45 32 2=100
just 12% of younger workers
No degree, not
who call their position “just a enrolled 23 51 24 2=100
job” are very satisfied with
Work full-time 26 46 26 3=100
their chances for
Work part-time 22 44 31 3=100
advancement. Younger
Notes: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550. Those saying “very” or
workers who see their “somewhat” dissatisfied are combined.
current position as a PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q24
steppingstone fall in the

middle between these two
groups, with 25% saying they are very satisfied with their chances for advancement.
Younger workers in part-time positions express about the same level of satisfaction with
advancement opportunities as do their age-peers working full time, however.
Satisfaction with advancement opportunities does not vary by gender or education levels.
Younger male and female workers are about equally likely to say they are satisfied with the
opportunities to advance in their position. The same holds among education groups. Younger
workers with a college degree are about equally likely as those without a college degree (and
not now enrolled in school) to say they are very satisfied with the chances for advancement in
their current position. These same patterns hold among older workers.
41
High Pay vs. Job Security Most Prefer Job Security over
Higher Pay
All else being equal, if asked to choose between Among those employed
a job with higher pay or better job security, Job security Higher pay
most employed adults would pick job security. 56
Among younger workers, 56% say they would 18-34 41
prefer job security over higher pay (41%). 59
35+
Older workers prefer better job security over 34
higher pay by an even greater margin (59% to
Younger workers
34%).
48
18-24
The youngest workers (ages 18 to 24) are about 51
evenly split between a preference for higher 25-29 62

pay (51%) and better job security (48%). This is 36
a marked change from 2009, when this group’s 30-34 61

preferences mirrored those of older workers 34
with 61% preferring better job security over Notes: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231. “Both
equally” and “Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
higher pay (36%).
Among workers 25 and older, the balance of

opinion leans to better job security, with a sizable minority
saying they would opt for higher pay. Increased Preference
for Money over Job
Security among the
This balance of opinion holds among both younger workers of
Youngest Workers
both genders and for those with either a college degree or who
% of 18- to 24-year-olds who are
are enrolled in school. Younger workers (18 to 34) with no
employed
college degree and who are not currently enrolled tend to be
Job security Higher pay
more evenly divided between a preference for higher pay (46%) 61
and a preference for better job security (49%). 48 51
36
2009 2011
Notes: Based on employed adults
ages 18-24, for 2011 n=213. “Both
equally” and “Don’t know/Refused”
responses not shown. Data from 2009
are from a survey conducted by Pew
Research Center’s Social &
Demographic Trends project, Jul. 20-
Aug. 2, 2009.
42
How’s the Pay?

Current Pay, by Age
% of employed saying they are paid enough
Workers’ assessments of their current salary
levels are split, with 52% of all workers saying
18-34 51
they get paid enough and 46% saying they do
not get paid enough, considering the kind and 35 and older 53
amount of work they do. Younger and older
Notes: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231.
workers hold similar assessments of their
compensation levels.
Compared with a 1997 survey conducted on

behalf of Wisconsin public television, non-self- Views on Current Pay among
employed workers today are more likely to say Younger Workers
they are being paid enough, up 11 points for Among those 18 to 34 years old who are employed
workers 35 and older and up 10 points for
Paid enough Not paid enough
workers ages 18 to 34. Gender
Men 52 48
Younger men and women are about equally
likely to consider their current pay enough. Women 50 48
This is a marked contrast to the pattern among

Education
older workers. Men ages 35 and older are more
likely than women in this age group to say their College grad 51 48
current pay is enough (59% of male and 46% of
No degree,
female workers do so). enrolled 60 40
No degree,
45 53
Younger workers in part-time positions (59%) not enrolled
are more likely than those in full-time

Employment
positions (47%) to consider their wages
enough. Full time 47 52
Part time 59 38
Younger workers who think of their current
position as a career are more likely to say they
Notes: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550.
are paid enough; 60% among this group do so, “Don’t know/Refused” responses not shown.
compared with 51% among those who see their PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q23
position as a steppingstone and 44% who

consider it just a job.
43
Education is related to views of compensation.

Among younger workers, those currently
Tools to Advance, by Age
enrolled in school who do not yet have a degree
% of employed saying they have the education and
are more likely to consider their pay enough training needed to get ahead
(60%); about half (51%) of college graduates
say the same, as do 45% of those without a 18-34 46
college degree and not currently enrolled in
35 and older 66
school.
Among those ages 18-34 ...
The Tools to Get Ahead Age
18-24 40
The Pew Research survey asked for an
assessment of whether respondents currently 25-29 44
have the necessary training and education to

30-34 56
advance in their job or career. About half
(52%) of younger workers, ages 18 to 34, say
Gender
they need more education and training to get
ahead in their job or career, and 46% say they
Men 45
have what they need to advance now.
Women 49
As expected, older workers are more likely to
say they already have the training they need. Education
Two-thirds (66%) of workers 35 and older
report having the necessary training and College grad 69
education to advance now, and about three-in-

No degree,
ten (32%) say they need more education and 34
enrolled
training to advance. No degree,
39
not enrolled
These self-assessments are roughly the same as

Notes: Based on employed adults, n=1,231 for all, n=550
when last asked in 2006 for both younger and for 18- to 34-year-olds.

older workers, although the gap between young
and old has widened somewhat.
Self-assessments of readiness to get ahead tend to vary by age. About four-in-ten (40%) of the
youngest workers say they have what they need to advance, as do 44% of those of those 25 to
29 years old. A majority of those (56%) 30 to 34 years old say the same.
44
Men and women ages 18 to 34 are about equally likely to say they have the education they need
to get ahead.
College graduates are much more likely than those with less education to report having the
necessary training and education to get ahead in their jobs. About seven-in-ten (69%) younger
workers with college degrees report having the
necessary training to get ahead, while 31% say Confidence in Finding Another Job
they need more. By contrast, a majority of Among those employed
younger workers without a college degree say Extremely/very confident
they need more education and training. Somewhat confident
Not very/at all confident
18-34
Optimism for Future Job Searches 43 35 21
35 and older 37 31 31
Workers appear largely optimistic about their
own abilities to find another job if the need Among those ages 18-34 ...
arises, regardless of age. Among those 18 to 34 Gender
years old, about four-in-ten (43%) are Men 45 35 20
extremely or very confident they could find
another job as good as or better than their Women 40 35 24
current position, 35% are somewhat confident
and about two-in-ten (21%) are not very or not Education
at all confident they could find another job at
College grad 40 37 23
the same level.
No degree,
50 42 6
enrolled
Older workers, ages 35 years and older, also
tend to be confident in their ability to find No degree,
40 30 30
not enrolled
another job. All told, this group is a bit less
likely than younger workers to say they are at Employment
least somewhat confident in their abilities to
Full time 44 31 25
find a job at the same level or better.
Part time 40 44 14
Younger men and women are about equally
confident in their ability to find new work, if Notes: Based on employed adults, n=1,231 for all, n=550
for 18- to 34-year-olds. “Don’t know/Refused” responses not
needed. Those in part-time jobs are more likely shown.
than those in full-time positions to be at least PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q25
somewhat confident they could find another

position.
45
Among those without a college degree, younger

Workers Less Confident They
workers currently enrolled in school are more
Could Find Another Job
likely than other younger workers to be at least
Among those employed, % saying they are … they
somewhat confident in their ability to find a could find another job if they lost/left current one
new position if needed.
100 %
Confidence in being able to find another job at

80
an equal or better level tends to vary with the
Extremely/
broader economic climate. A Rutgers very confident
60
University/ University of Connecticut poll
conducted before the economic bust of the late
40
1990s found both younger and older workers
more confident in their ability to find work 20
compared with today, while a survey Not too/at all
confident
conducted in 2009 showed a populace 0
1998 2009 2011
considerably less confident than today.
Notes: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231 for 2011.
“Somewhat confident” and “Don’t know/Refused” responses
More than six-in-ten workers 18 to 34 years not shown. Data for 2009 are from a survey conducted by
Rutgers Univ.; 1998 data are from a Rutgers/Univ. of
old were very or extremely confident in their Connecticut survey.

ability to find new work in 1998; a quarter
(25%) expressed the same level of confidence
in 2009. Confidence has
partially rebounded today, with Confidence over Time
43% of younger workers saying % of 18- to 34-year-olds who are employed
they are very or extremely 1998 2009 2011
confident that they could find % % %
another job. Extremely/very confident 65 25 43
Somewhat confident 25 41 35
Not very/not at all confident 9 34 21
DK/Ref * 0 1
100 100 100
Notes: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550 for 2011. The asterisk (*)
is a percentage greater than 0 and less than 0.5%. Data for 2009 are from a
survey conducted by Rutgers Univ.; 1998 data are from a Rutgers/Univ. of
Connecticut survey.
46
Is It a Career … or Just a Job?
Younger workers have a range of outlooks when it comes to their current employment
situation. About four-in-ten (39%) younger workers (ages 18 to 34) say their current position is
“just a job,” while three-in-ten call it a career and an equal share call it a “steppingstone to a
career.” Among workers ages
35 and older, a similar Are You in a Job … or a Career?
portion say their current
Among those employed
position is just a job (33%),
Stepping-
and as would be expected stone to
Career career Just a job DK/Ref
among more established
% % % %
workers, more say their 18-34 30 30 39 *=100
position is a career (52%), 18-24 11 37 52 1=100
with 12% saying their current 25-29 34 36 30 0=100

30-34 49 18 33 *=100
position is a steppingstone to
35+ 52 12 33 3=100
a career.
Note: Based on all employed adults, n=1,231. The asterisk (*) is a percentage
greater than 0 and less than 0.5%.
The pattern of responses PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q12
shows a clear progression

with the youngest workers,
ages 18 to 24, being the least Are You in a Job … or a Career?
likely to say they are working Among those 18 to 34 years old who are employed
in a career position (just 11% Career Stepping stone to career Just a job
do so) and most likely to say Gender
their current position is just Men 36 28 36
a job to get by (52%). Those
ages 30 to 34 have an Women 23 33 43
orientation toward their

current position that is Education
broadly similar to that College grad 49 34 17

among older workers; about
No
No degree,
degree,
half of this group (49%) says 13 39 48
enrolled
enrolled
they are working in a career, No
Nodegree,
degree,
27 23 49
18% says their position is a not
not enrolled
enrolled
steppingstone to a career and

Notes: Based on employed adults ages 18-34, n=550. “Don’t know/Refused”
33% say it is just a job to get responses not shown.
by. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q12
47
Younger workers, ages 18 to 34, were about equally likely to call their current job a career in
2010 as they do today. However, workers ages 35 and older today are less likely to say their
current position is a career, down from 60% in January 2010 to 52% today with a nearly equal
rise in the percent calling their position just a job to get by (33% today, up from 27% in 2010).
Younger men are more likely than younger women to see their job as a career position.
Upwards of a third of younger men (36%) say their position is a career, compared with 23%
among women 18 to 34 years old. This pattern holds among older workers as well.
College education is also strongly associated with a career orientation among both younger and
older workers. About half (49%) of those ages 18 to 34 with a college degree say their current
position is a career, 34% call it a steppingstone and 17% say it is just a job. This pattern is
reversed among those 18 to 34 with no college degree (and who are not currently enrolled in
school); 49% say their position is just a job, 27% say it is a career and 23% call it a
steppingstone. Younger workers who are currently enrolled in school, but with no college
degree, are particularly likely to say their current job is a steppingstone (39% say this), 48%
say it is just a job and 13% call it a career.
48
APPENDIX 1: SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Results for the survey are based on telephone interviews conducted December 6-19, 2011
among a national sample of 2,048 adults 18 years of age or older living in the continental
United States (a total of 769 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone, and 1,279
were interviewed on a cell phone, including 633 who had no landline telephone). The survey
was conducted by interviewers at Princeton Data Source under the direction of Princeton
Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI). Interviews were conducted in English and
Spanish. A combination of landline and cell phone random digit dial (RDD) samples were
used; both samples were provided by Survey Sampling International. The landline RDD
sample was drawn using traditional list-assisted methods where telephone numbers were
drawn with equal probabilities from all active blocks in the continental U.S. The cell sample
was drawn through a systematic sampling from dedicated wireless 100-blocks and shared
service 100-blocks with no directory-listed landline numbers. Both the landline and cell RDD
samples were disproportionately stratified by county based on estimated incidences of African-
American and Hispanic respondents. Additional interviewers were obtained with 18-34 year-
olds by re-contacting landline and cell phone respondents ages 18-34 from recent surveys
conducted by PSRAI.
Number of Interviews Conducted by Sample Source

New RDD Callback
All Adults 18-34 Total
Landline 652 117 769
Cellular 1,050 229 1,279
Total 1,702 346 2,048
Both the landline and cell samples were released for interviewing in replicates, which are small
random samples of each larger sample. Using replicates to control the release of telephone
numbers ensures that the complete call procedures are followed for all numbers dialed. As
many as 7 attempts were made to contact every sampled telephone number. The calls are
staggered over times of day and days of the week (including at least one daytime call) to
maximize the chances of making contact with a potential respondent. An effort is made to
recontact most interview breakoffs and refusals to attempt to convert them to completed
interviews.
Respondents in the landline sample were selected by randomly asking for the youngest adult
male or female who is now at home. Interviews in the cell sample were conducted with the
person who answered the phone, if that person was an adult 18 years of age or older. The
additional interviews with 18- to 34-year-olds from the cell sample were administered an age
49
screener; those who were in the target age range completed the interview. For the landline
callback sample, interviewers asked to speak with the person based on age and gender who
participated in an earlier survey. For the cellular callback sample, interviews were conducted
with the person who answered the phone once it was confirmed that they were in the target age
range.
Weighting is generally used in survey analysis to adjust for effects of sample design and to
compensate for patterns of nonresponse that might bias results. The weighting was
accomplished in multiple stages to account for the different sample frames as well as the
oversampling of 18-34 year-olds. Weighting also balances sample demographic distributions to
match known population parameters.
In the second stage of weighting, the combined sample was weighted using an iterative
technique that matches gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin, and region to parameters
from are from the Current Population Survey’s March 2010 Annual Social and Economic
Supplement. The population density parameter is county based and was derived from the
Decennial Census. The sample also is weighted to match current patterns of telephone status
and relative usage of landline and cell phones (for those with both), based on extrapolations
from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey.
The survey’s margin of error is the largest 95% confidence interval for any estimated
proportion based on the total sample – the one around 50%. For example, the margin of error
for the entire sample is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. This means that in 95 out of every
100 samples drawn using the same methods, estimated proportions based on the entire sample
will be no more than 2.9 percentage points away from their true values in the population.
Sampling errors and statistical tests of significance take into account the effect of weighting.
The following table shows the sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling that would
be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the survey:
Group Sample Size Plus or minus …

Total sample 2,048 2.9 percentage points
18-34 year-olds 808 4.4 percentage points

35 and older 1,211 3.6 percentage points
In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical
difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
50
APPENDIX 2: TOPLINE QUESTIONNAIRE

DECEMBER 2011 YOUTH AND ECONOMY SURVEY
TOPLINE
DECEMBER 6-DECEMBER 19, 2011
TOTAL N=2,048, AGES 18-34 N=808
NOTE: ALL NUMBERS ARE PERCENTAGES. THE PERCENTAGES GREATER THAN

ZERO BUT LESS THAN 0.5 % ARE REPLACED BY AN ASTERISK (*). COLUMNS/ROWS
MAY NOT TOTAL 100% DUE TO ROUNDING. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL
TRENDS REFERENCE SURVEYS FROM SOCIAL & DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND THE
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS. PERCENTAGES FOR SUB-
GROUPS ARE NOT REPORTED WHEN N IS LESS THAN 100.
ASK ALL:
Q.1 Generally, how would you say things are these days in your life -- would you say that you are very happy, pretty
happy, or not too happy?
Total 18-34 35+

31 33 30 Very happy
50 55 48 Pretty happy
15 10 18 Not too happy
3 2 4 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.)
(n=808) (n=1,211)
Trends: 25
Very Pretty Not too DK/Refused
happy happy happy (VOL.)
Dec 2011 31 50 15 3
Sep 2011 30 47 20 3
Mar 2011 30 52 16 2
Jan 2010 28 54 16 2
Jul 2009 34 49 15 3
Apr 2009 29 52 16 4
Feb 2009 32 49 15 4
Oct 2008 29 51 17 3
Jun 2008 35 48 14 3
Sep 2006 36 51 12 1
Oct 2005 34 50 15 1
Late Mar 2003 29 51 16 4
Feb 2003 29 51 17 3
Sep 1996 34 53 11 2
25
Unless otherwise noted, trends are based on total sample.
51
ASK ALL:
Q.2 Next, please tell me whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied, on the whole, with the following aspects of your life:
(First/Next) [READ AND RANDOMIZE] [IF NECESSARY: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied?]
REQUIRED PROBE: Would you say you are VERY (dis)satisfied or SOMEWHAT (dis)satisfied?
a. Your family life

Sep Mar Oct Jun Oct Jan Nov
Total 18-34 35+ 2011 2011 2010 2008 2005 1999 1996
69 71 69 Very satisfied 67 72 75 69 72 71 69
20 21 20 Somewhat satisfied 22 19 19 22 19 20 21
5 4 6 Somewhat dissatisfied 5 4 4 4 4 4 6
3 3 3 Very dissatisfied 4 3 2 2 3 3 3
* * * Does not apply (VOL.) n/a * * 1 1 n/a n/a
2 2 2 Don’t know/Refused 3 2 1 2 1 2 1
(VOL.)
b. Your personal financial situation

Sep Mar Oct Feb
Total 18-34 35+ 2011 2011 2010 200926
27 20 29 Very satisfied 25 28 29 23
38 43 35 Somewhat satisfied 35 39 40 43
16 20 15 Somewhat dissatisfied 19 17 14 18
17 16 18 Very dissatisfied 18 14 14 13
* * * Does not apply (VOL.) n/a * * *
2 1 2 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 2 2 2 3
c. Your present housing situation

Mar Feb Oct Jan Nov
Total 18-34 35+ 2011 200927 2005 1999 1996
57 47 62 Very satisfied 56 56 63 61 56
28 35 25 Somewhat satisfied 29 30 25 28 31
8 11 6 Somewhat dissatisfied 7 8 6 6 7
6 6 6 Very dissatisfied 5 4 5 4 5
0 0 0 Does not apply (VOL.) * * * n/a n/a
1 * 1 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 2 2 1 1 1
d. Your education
Mar
Total 18-34 35+ 2011
52 46 54 Very satisfied 50
30 33 28 Somewhat satisfied 32
12 14 11 Somewhat dissatisfied 10
5 6 4 Very dissatisfied 5
* * * Does not apply (VOL.) 1
2 1 3 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 2
26
In Feb. 2009, the question read “Please tell me whether, on the whole, you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the following aspects of your life…”
27
In 2009 and earlier, the item was “your housing situation.”
52
ASK ALL:
Q.3 Compared to your parents when they were the age you are now, do you think your own standard of living now is
much better, somewhat better, about the same, somewhat worse, or much worse than theirs was?
Total 18-34 35+

36 34 38 Much better
24 29 21 Somewhat better
23 23 22 About the same
10 8 10 Somewhat worse
5 5 6 Much worse
Trends:
Much Somewhat About the Somewhat Much DK/Ref
better better same worse worse (VOL.)
Dec 2011 36 24 23 10 5 2
Mar 2011 35 26 23 9 4 3
May 2010 31 26 23 11 6 3
Jan 2008 38 27 19 9 5 2
GSS 2010 29 29 25 12 4 1
GSS 2008 31 31 21 11 5 1
GSS 2006 35 31 21 9 3 1
GSS 2004 39 31 18 8 3 1
GSS 2002 35 33 19 10 2 1
GSS 2000 35 31 21 9 3 2
GSS 1998 33 32 21 10 3 1
GSS 1996 33 29 21 12 3 2
GSS 1994 32 32 21 10 3 2
53
ASK ALL:
Q.4 When your children are at the age you are now, do you think their standard of living will be much better, somewhat
better, about the same, somewhat worse, or much worse than yours is now?
Total 18-34 35+

28 36 24 Much better
20 24 18 Somewhat better
19 21 18 About the same
13 6 16 Somewhat worse
10 8 11 Much worse
6 3 7 No children (VOL.)
Trends:
Much Somewhat About the Somewhat Much No children DK/Ref
better better same worse worse (VOL.) (VOL.)
Dec 2011 28 20 19 13 10 6 5
Mar 2011 26 22 19 12 9 6 5
May 2010 24 21 19 16 10 6 4
Jan 2008 26 23 20 14 7 5 5
GSS 2010 24 28 18 13 5 8 3
GSS 2008 27 26 18 13 5 9 3
GSS 2006 28 29 18 11 3 10 2
GSS 2004 23 30 22 11 3 9 2
GSS 2002 26 35 18 8 2 9 2
GSS 2000 28 31 16 7 3 11 4
GSS 1998 22 33 20 9 3 9 4
GSS 1996 20 27 20 17 5 7 4
GSS 1994 16 29 22 15 5 9 4
ASK ALL:
Q.5 When you think about YOUR prospects for the future, do you tend to be more optimistic that you will be able to
achieve your goals, do you tend to be more worried that you will face many difficulties that might prevent you from
achieving your goals, or have you already reached the goals you set for yourself?
NBC/Wall Street Journal

Total 18-34 35+ Dec 1997
46 64 37 More optimistic 54
26 25 26 More worried 22
26 9 33 Already reached goals 18
1 1 1 Some of both (VOL.) 4
54
ASK ALL:
Q.7 Here are some goals that people value in their lives. Some people say these things are very important to them.
Others say they are not so important. Please tell me how important each is to you personally. First [INSERT
FIRST ITEM (ITEM e. SHOULD NOT COME FIRST); RANDOMIZE], is that one of the most important
things in your life, very important but not the most, somewhat important, or not important? How about [INSERT
NEXT ITEM]? [REPEAT AS NECESSARY “is that one of the most important things in your life, very important
but not the most, somewhat important, or not important?”]
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [n=992]:

a.F1 Being successful in a high-paying career or profession
Washington Post/
Kaiser/Harvard
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010 Aug 1997
10 15 7 One of the most important things 9 9
40 47 37 Very important but not the most 36 32
31 29 31 Somewhat important 34 39
18 9 23 Not important 21 20
1 * 2 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 1 *
(n=384) (n=589)
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [n=1,056]:

b.F2 Having a job or career that benefits society
Total 18-34 35+

17 22 14 One of the most important things
50 49 51 Very important but not the most
20 22 18 Somewhat important
11 6 13 Not important
3 * 4 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.)
(n=424) (n=622)
c. Having a successful marriage
Washington Post/
Kaiser/Harvard
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010 Aug 1997
1 * 2 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 2 1
d. Being a good parent
Washington Post/
Kaiser/Harvard
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010 Aug 1997
2 1 3 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 1 1
55
Q.7 CONTINUED …
e. Becoming famous
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010

1 1 1 One of the most important things 1
4 5 4 Very important but not the most 3
7 9 6 Somewhat important 9
87 85 88 Not important 87
1 * 1 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) *
f. Owning your own home
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010

20 18 22 One of the most important things 20
54 55 54 Very important but not the most 53
19 21 18 Somewhat important 20
6 6 5 Not important 7
1 * 1 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 1
ASK ALL:
Q.9 All things considered, which age group do you think is having a tougher time in today’s economy… [READ AND
RANDOMIZE]?
Total 18-34 35+

24 19 26 Older adults
41 49 38 Young adults
29 28 30 Middle-aged adults
4 4 5 All are having an equally rough time (VOL.)
56
ASK ALL:
Q.10 Thinking about young adults today compared to their parents’ generation, do you think [INSERT ITEM;
RANDOMIZE] is [FORM 1: harder for today’s young adults, easier/FORM 2: easier for today’s adults, harder] or
is it about the same as it was for their parents’ generation? Still thinking about young adults today compared to their
parents’ generation, is [INSERT NEXT ITEM] [FORM 1: harder for today’s young adults, easier/FORM 2: easier
for today’s adults, harder] or is it about the same as it was for their parents’ generation?] How about [INSERT NEXT
ITEM], [IF NECESSARY: is this (FORM 1: harder for today’s young adults, easier/FORM 2: easier for today’s
adults, harder) or is it about the same as it was for their parents’ generation?]
INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF RESPONDENT ASKS WHAT AGE “YOUNG ADULTS” ARE, IT’S OKAY TO
SAY “Adults in their twenties or early thirties.”
a. Getting into college
Total 18-34 35+

41 36 43 Harder today
33 38 30 Easier today
25 24 25 About the same as it was
b. Buying a home
Total 18-34 35+

c. Paying for college
Total 18-34 35+

d. Finding a job
Total 18-34 35+

5 7 4 Easier today
e. Saving for the future
Total 18-34 35+

7 8 6 Easier today
57
Q.10 CONTINUED …
f. Staying in touch with friends and family
Total 18-34 35+

g. Finding a spouse or partner
Total 18-34 35+

ASK ALL:
On a different subject…
E1 Are you currently retired?
Total 18-34 35+

26 3 37 Retired (NET)
22 1 32 Yes
3 2 4 Yes, semi-retired or “still do some type of work” (VOL.)
73 97 61 No
2 * 2 Disabled (VOL.)
* * * Don’t know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK ALL:
E2 Are you now enrolled in school, either full or part-time, or not?
Total 18-34 35+

15 38 4 Enrolled
10 26 2 Full time
6 12 3 Part time
85 62 95 Not enrolled
* * * Don’t know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK ALL:
E3 (IF E1=1,2 & E2=3,9 : Some people who have retired do some type of work for pay…/IF E2=1,2 & E1=3,9:
Some students also do some type of work for pay/IF E1=4: Some people who are disabled do some type of work for
pay… ) Are you now employed full-time, part-time or not employed?
Total 18-34 35+

58 66 55 Employed
43 46 42 Full time
15 21 12 Part time
41 34 45 Not employed
* * 1 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.)
58
ASK IF EMPLOYED (E3=1,2) [n=1,231]:

E3c. Are you self-employed, or not? [INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF R MENTIONS MORE THAN ONE
JOB/EMPLOYER ASK ABOUT THEIR “main job”]
Total 18-34 35+

19 10 25 Yes, self-employed (includes independent contractor, freelance worker)
80 89 75 No, not self-employed
* 1 * Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
(n=550) (n=663)
ASK IF EMPLOYED (E3=1,2) [N=1,231]:

Q.11 How satisfied are you with your current job… [READ]?
Gallup/CNN/USA Today
Total 18-34 35+ June 1994
36 31 40 Completely satisfied 39
49 53 47 Somewhat satisfied 47
10 11 9 Somewhat dissatisfied 11
5 5 4 Completely dissatisfied 3
1 1 * Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) *
(n=550) (n=663)
ASK IF NOT EMPLOYED (E3=3) [n=806]:

E4 Are you currently looking for work or not?
Total 18-34 35+ Sep 2011 May 2010 Jul 2009 Feb 2009
30 60 19 Yes, looking for work 33 22 24 27
70 40 81 No, not looking for work 67 78 76 72
* 0 * Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) * 1 0 1
(n=256) (n=540)

Q.12 Do you think of your current job as a career, a stepping stone to a career, or do you think of it as just a job to get you
by?
Total 18-34 35+ Jan 2010

44 30 52 A career 51
19 30 12 A stepping stone to a career 18
35 39 33 Just a job to get you by 29
2 * 3 Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) 2
(n=550) (n=663)
ASK ALL:
Q.13 All other things being equal, which would you prefer: A higher-paying job, or a job that offers better job security?
[INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF RESPONDENT SAYS THEY ARE RETIRED/DISABLED AND QUESTION
DOES NOT APPLY, PROMPT WITH “Generally speaking, which do you think is more important?”]
Total 18-34 35+ Jul 2009

32 39 29 High-paying job 32
62 58 65 Job security 60
2 2 3 Both equally (VOL.) 5
59

Q.14 Do you now earn enough money to lead the kind of life you want, or not?
ASK IF NO (Q.14=2)
Q.15 Do you think you will be able to earn enough money in the future to lead the kind of life you want, or not?
Total 18-34 35+

46 38 51 Yes
53 62 48 No (NET)
35 55 23 Yes, will in future
16 6 23 No, will not in future
(n=550) (n=663)
Trends:
Yes No (NET) Yes, will in future No, will not in future DK/Ref (VOL.) DK/Ref (VOL.)
Dec 2011 46 53 35 16 2 1
Jan 2010 45 55 37 16 2 1
Sep 2007 46 53 31 19 3 1
Oct 2006 46 53 32 18 3 1
Sep 2006 49 50 33 15 2 1
Jan 2006 46 53 28 23 2 1
May 2005 40 59 35 22 2 1
May 2004 51 48 25 19 4 1
Feb 2004 53 46 26 19 1 1
Jun 2002 43 56 30 23 3 1
Jan 2001 43 56 33 21 2 1
Sep 1999 42 58 33 23 2 *
Jul 1999 39 60 38 19 3 1
Aug 1998 43 57 36 20 1 *
Nov 1997 41 59 33 24 2 *
May 1997 46 54 34 18 2 *
May 1996 44 56 34 20 2 *
Feb 1995 41 58 35 20 3 1
Jul 1994 40 60 34 24 2 *
Mar 1994 44 56 33 20 3 *
U.S.News & W. 39 61 34 22 5 *
Report/PSRA
Jan 1992
60
ASK IF NOT EMPLOYED OR DK/REF (E3=3,9) [n=817]:

Q.16 Do you now have enough income to lead the kind of life you want, or not?
ASK IF NO (Q.16=2)
Q.17 Do you think you will have enough income in the future to lead the kind of life you want, or not?
Total 18-34 35+

41 19 49 Yes
56 80 48 No (NET)
24 60 10 Yes, will in future
28 14 33 No, will not in future
(n=258) (n=548)
Trends:
Yes No (NET) Yes, will in future No, will not in future DK/Ref (VOL.) DK/Ref (VOL.)
Dec 2011 41 56 24 28 4 2
Jan 2010 42 57 31 22 4 1
Sep 2007 47 50 22 25 3 3
Oct 2006 48 49 20 23 6 3
Sep 2006 53 44 22 18 4 2
Jan 2006 45 52 19 29 4 3
May 2004 50 47 18 25 4 3
Feb 2004 48 50 21 23 6 2

Q.18 You mentioned earlier that you work (IF E3=1: full time; IF E3=2: part-time). Are you currently looking for a
different job, or not?
Total 18-34 35+

21 29 17 Yes, looking for a different job
78 71 82 No, not looking for a different job
(n=550) (n=663)
NO QUESTIONS 19, 20

Q.21 In general, do you feel you have the education and training necessary to get ahead in your job or career, OR do you
need more education and training?
Total 18-34 35+ June 2006

59 46 66 Have necessary education and training 57
40 52 32 Need more 42
(n=550) (n=663)
61
ASK IF NOT RETIRED (E1=2-9) AND NOT EMPLOYED (E3=3) [n=438]:

Q.22 In general, do you feel you have the education and training necessary to get the kind of job you want, or do you need
more education and training?
Total 18-34 35+

35 27 41 Have necessary education and training
63 72 55 Need more
(n=252) (n=183)

Q.23 Considering the kind of work you do and how much you get done, do you think you get paid enough, or don't get
paid enough?
Not self-employed
Wisc. Public
TV/PSRA
Total 18-34 35+ Dec 2011 June 1997
52 51 53 Paid enough 51 42
46 48 45 Not paid enough 47 57
(n=550) (n=663) (n=998) (n=737)

Q.24 Generally speaking, how satisfied are you with the chances for advancement at your current job: are you [READ]
Employed full time

USA Today
Dec
Total 18-34 35+ Dec 2011 198628
30 24 33 Very satisfied 32 35
38 45 34 Somewhat satisfied 38 31
16 17 15 Somewhat dissatisfied 17 16
10 10 9 Very dissatisfied 8 15
3 2 3 Not interested in advancing in current job (VOL.) 3 n/a
(n=550) (n=663) (n=904) (n=574)

Q.25 How confident are you that if you lost or wanted to leave your current job, you could find another job as good or
better? Are you [READ]
Rutgers Rutgers/UConn
Total 18-34 35+ Nov 2009 Aug 1998
15 16 14 Extremely confident 7 28
24 27 23 Very confident 13 28
32 35 31 Somewhat confident 29 25
16 12 18 Not very confident 28 11
12 10 13 Not confident at all 22 7
(n=550) (n=663) (n=538) (n=940)
28
Trend from USA Today for Dec. 1986 includes those working full time, on a leave of absence or on sabbatical. Because the full
dataset was not available, the sample size is derived by computing the 71.7% of the full sample who were asked this question.
62
ASK ALL:
On another subject…
AGE What is your age?
Total
32 18-34
22 35-49
28 50-64
17 65+
1 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK ALL:
MARITAL Are you currently married, living with a partner, divorced, separated, widowed, or have you never been
married? (IF R SAYS “SINGLE,” PROBE TO DETERMINE WHICH CATEGORY IS
APPROPRIATE)
Total 18-34 35+

50 28 60 Married
7 14 4 Living with a partner
9 3 11 Divorced
3 2 3 Separated
8 * 12 Widowed
23 52 9 Never been married
1 1 1 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK ALL:
KIDSA Do you have any children under age 18? IF RESPONDENT VOL.UNTEERS THAT THEY HAVE
STEPCHILDREN, ASK: Do you consider yourself (IF MORE THAN ONE: their/IF ONE: his or her) parent or
guardian, or not? IF YES, CODE ‘1’
Total 18-34 35+

32 38 29 Yes
68 62 71 No
* * 0 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK IF KIDS UNDER 18 (KIDSA=1) [n=627]:

KIDSB Are any of those children age 16 or younger?
Total 18-34 35+

92 96 89 Yes
8 4 10 No
* 0 1 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
(n=279) (n=342)
63
ASK ALL:
KIDSC Do you have any adult children, age 18 or older? IF RESPONDENT VOL.UNTEERS THAT THEY HAVE
STEPCHILDREN, ASK: Do you consider yourself (IF MORE THAN ONE: their/IF ONE: his or her) parent or
guardian, or not? IF YES, CODE ‘1’
Total 18-34 35+

46 1 68 Yes
54 99 32 No
* * 0 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK IF KIDSC=1 [n=856]:

AKID How many of your children are ages 18 or older?
Total
20 1
39 2
21 3
19 4+
* Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
ASK ALL:
Q.28 At about what age do you think children today should HAVE to be financially independent from their parents? Would
you say by… [READ IN ORDER]?
Parents with children 16 or younger
Newsweek/PSRA
Total 18-34 35+ Dec 2011 April 1993
15 23 12 Age 18 21 28
40 43 38 Age 22 46 52
34 25 38 Age 25 26 15
5 3 7 Age 30 3 2
3 4 3 Never 2 2
* * * Over 30 (VOL.) 0 0
(n=577) (n=752)
ASK ALL:
OWNRENT Do you own or rent your home [IF AGE < 35: or do you live in a dorm or live with your parents]?
Total 18-34 35+

56 23 72 Own
30 42 24 Rent
2 6 0 Live in a dorm
8 24 1 Live with parents
4 5 3 Other arrangement (VOL.)
* 0 * Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
64
ASK ONLY THOSE AGES 18-34 (n=808):

Q.29 For each of the following, please tell me whether or not it is something that has happened to you over the past few
years because of economic conditions. Have you [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]?
a. Moved back in with your parents after living on your own
May 201029
18-34 18-34
24 Yes 22
75 No 76
1 Does not apply (VOL.) 2
0 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) *
(n=390)
b. Postponed getting married
18-34
20 Yes
79 No
1 Does not apply (VOL.)
c. Postponed having a baby
18-34
22 Yes
77 No
* Does not apply (VOL.)
d. Gone back to school
18-34
35 Yes
62 No
e. Taken a job you didn’t really want just to pay the bills
18-34
49 Yes
51 No
29
In May 2010, the question asked if this was something that “has happened to you during the recession”
65
Q.29 CONTINUED …
f. Taken an unpaid job to gain work experience
18-34
24 Yes
76 No
* Does not apply (VOL.)

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Social &

Young, Underemployed and

Paul Taylor, Director

Kim Parker, Associate Director

Richard Fry, Senior Researcher

Cary Funk, Senior Researcher

Eileen Patten, Research Assistant

Seth Motel, Research Assistant

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT

Pew Social & Demographic Trends

1615 L St., N.W., Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20036

Here is a summary of the key findings:

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

About the Data

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

These accommodations to a tough economy

The view that young adults are having the

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

held level for all older age PEW RESEARCH CENTER

The Recession’s Impact on the Young

conditions. For the young, the impact of the

gone back to school. And more than one-in-five

PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q29

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

nearly as many (63%) of those ages 35 to 49

the end of 2011, the ratings of young and middle-aged adults

18-34 35-64 65+

Most young adults (68%), whether they are employed or not,

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

future (18% believe they won’t). But will in the future

Not only are young adults optimistic about 89

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

Young Adults in the Workplace Vulnerable Young

then. In the current survey, 43% express a high level of

Most young workers (69%) do not view their

Throughout young adulthood, there is a steady

35 and older, 52% of whom consider their job

PEW RESEARCH CENTER Q12

Among all workers ages 18 to 34, those with a

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

About the Report

Chapter 2: Young Adults in the U.S. Labor Market

Adults ages 25 to 34 have also encountered a tough labor

18-24 25-29 All 30-34 35-64

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

The Unemployment Rate

In 2011, the unemployment

rate for those ages 3o to 34

as a share of the total labor 35-64

force: those with a job or 5

the business cycle in similar PEW RESEARCH CENTER

fashion. It is clear, however,

The Employment Rate

adults. From 2007 to 2011, the employment rate of 25- to 29-

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

who were employed dropped

fell from 73.2% in 2007 to

PEW RESEARCH CENTER