Young, Underemployed and Optimistic

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.

The key findings show that:

• Young adults hit hard by the recession
   
• Public says today’s young adults have it harder than their parents did.
   
• Tough economic times altering young adults’ daily lives, long-term plans.
   
• Adulthood begins later than it used to.
   
• For young adults, bad times don’t trump optimism.
   
• Older adults have maintained their standard of living.
   
• Among the employed, job satisfaction has remained steady ...
   
• …But young workers feel more vulnerable than they used to.
   
• Few young workers see their current job as a “career.”
   
• Most young workers say they don’t have the education and training to get ahead.
   
• College enrollment rates are tied to employment declines among the young.

Read more about the key findings and find the full report in the link below.