www.STATEOFYOUNGAMERICA.org

THE REPORTS• DATABOOK• Analysis of data trends over 30 years to compare the economic

position of today’s young workers with that of a generation ago• Evaluates the ability of young workers to build strong middle class

households now and in the future

• POLL• Firsthand look at how young Americans feel about their economic

situation, their prospects for the future, and their aspirations of working hard and getting ahead.  Conducted by Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research and Consulting.

• STORIES(not covered in this presentation)• Stories of young people entering adulthood in a time of uncertainty,

as relayed to Young Invincibles by the young people themselves.  

KEY AREAS EXPLORED

• Jobs And The Economy

• Raising A Family

• Cost Of Living

• Higher Education

• Health Care And Coverage

DEMOGRAPHIC FOCUS

• Report covers young people ages 18 to 34 today; mostly Millennials, but a few Gen-Xers.• Compares Millennnials to their parents, the Baby Boomers, who were similarly-aged (15 to 34) in 1980

CONTEXT

• major economic and political shift in last 30 years

• globalization and technology have been important, but our nation’s response to these forces is more important

• public policy either failed to address new challenges, or made things worse

JOBS AND INCOME

KEY FINDINGS:• Only young workers with at least a bachelor’s degree, either male or female, saw earnings increase over the last generation• Median earnings for young African-Americans are 75% of the earnings of whites; 68% for Latinos• Young women earn less than men at every level of education.• 29% of 18-24 year olds and 16% of 25-34 year-olds are underemployed• The percentage of young adults with jobs is at its lowest point in a generation

Women Make Some Gains, Men’s Earnings Fall

Earnings for Bachelor’s Degree-Holders Rose…

…But Fell For All Other Education Levels

Gender Pay Gap Narrows, but Still Exists

Earning by Race/Ethnicity Still Show Wide Disparities

Unemployment Rate by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2010

• Unemployment rates are higher for young Americans• 17.3% for 18-24 year-olds, 10.1% for 25-34, and 7.6% for 35+

• Young men have higher unemployment rates than young women• 19.7% for young men ages 18-24; 14.6% for women.

• Unemployment rates are higher for young people of color of either sex• 17.6% for African Americans ages 25-34, versus 11.3% for

Latinos and 8.9% for whites.

• Young African American men have the highest rates• 32.6% for African Americans men ages 18-24; 19.3% for 25-34

Overall Employment Levels for Young People at Historic Lows

RAISING A FAMILY

KEY FINDINGS• Young people are getting married and starting families later.• The labor force participation of mothers rose 25% since 1980.• Just 11% of all workers had access to paid family leave benefits.• Center-based child care fees for two children exceeded annual median rent payments.

Young People Waiting Longer to Marry, Have Children

A Higher Share of Mothers in the Workforce

Few Workers Have Access to Paid Family Leave

Child Care Arrangements of Working Mothers• The share of children with no regular child care arrangement (“other”) has grown dramatically. • Decrease in access to center-based care for below-poverty families• 12% of such families use center-based care today, down from

21% in 1988.

• Differences by Race/Ethnicity• African Americans use center-based care at about the same

rates as whites, but use other paid care (nannies, etc.) less and relative care more.

• Hispanics use paid care of all forms much less than either African Americans or whites, and rely on relative care much more, particularly grandparent and other relative care.

HOUSING

KEY FINDINGS• 41.3% of 25-34 year-old households spend more than 30% of their income on rent.• The share of housing-burdened young households (25-34) rose from 28% in 1980 to 41% in 2009.• The share of young adults living with their parents increased rapidly over the past decade.• Levels of credit card debt among those ages 25 to 34 rose 81% since 1989, to an average of $6,255 in 2007.

Rent’s Share of Income Has Ballooned Since Housing Bubble

As Rent Rose, So Did The Share of Housing-Burdened Young Adults

More Young Adults of All Ages Still Live With Their Parents

HIGHER EDUCATION

KEY FINDINGS:• Educational attainment of young people of all ethnicities/races has increased over the past generation.• Young women are significantly more educated than they were a generation earlier, and have surpassed young men, whose educational attainment has stagnated.• Average public school tuition is nearly three times higher today than in 1980• Two out of three students graduate with student loan debt, at an average of over $24,000 • The student loan default rate rose 31% over just 2 years.

Post-High College Enrollment Grows, But Gaps By Income Remain

7 out of 10 high school graduates enroll in college, but in 2009 the gap in enrollment between low- and

high-income households was 29%.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Completion Rates Remain Stark…

…Leading to Continued Gaps in Educational Attainment Women, however, have made huge gains

• Overall, the percentage of young people with college degrees has risen• 24% of 25-34 year-olds had Bachelor’s Degrees in 1980; now,

33% do.

• Educational attainment of men has stagnated, while women have soared• Percentage of women ages 25-34 with bachelor’s degrees+ has

risen from 21% to 37% in the past 30 years, while young men’s has remained flat.

• Attainment for all races/ethnicities has risen, but African Americans and Latinos still trail• Percent of 25-34 year olds with bachelor’s degrees+ in 2011: Latinos

– 14%, African Americans – 21%, whites – 40%.

Tuition and Fees at Public Schools Has Nearly Tripled

Public Four-Year vs. Public Two-Year

Pell Grants Cover a Rapidly Shrinking Share of Costs

Student aid has not kept up with tuition increases. In 1980 the maximum Pell Grant covered 69% of the cost of attendance, today it covers 34%.

Maximum Pell Grant as a Percentage of College Costs

Student Loan Debt a Heavy Burden For All, Particularly Minorities

Two-thirds of students graduate with student loan debt, at an average of $24,842.

African Americans are more likely to borrow, and to graduate with more debt.

Undergraduate Student Loan Debt by Race, 2008

Student Loan Defaults Rose During Great Recession, Particularly For-Profit

HEALTH CARE

KEY FINDINGS:• In just 10 years, employer-sponsored insurance dropped 12.8% for workers 18-24 and 8.5% for workers 25-34.  • During the recession, uninsurance rose among both 18-24 and 25-34 year-olds.  • Young people of color are disproportionately likely to lack insurance.• The ACA has begun to reverse that trend• 1 million young people under the age of 26 joined their parent's

plan in the last quarter of 2010 and the first two quarters of 2011.

• Uninsurance rates for young people dropped in 2010, halting a decades-long increase.

Young Latinos Disproportionately Lack Health Insurance

Young People Turn to Credit Cards to Pay Medical Bills

Uninsurance Rates Have Risen Dramatically Over Past Decade

Coverage Has Risen Since Passage of ACA

• While uninsurance rates climbed during the recession, more recent numbers show the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to young people.

• 18-24 year olds saw a 2% drop in uninsurance in 2010, largely due to the ACA provision allowing them to remain on their parents’ plans.

• That is one million additional insured, thanks to the ACA

VISIT STATEOFYOUNGAMERICA.ORG FOR MORE INFO

Young Invincibles/ Dēmos

Findings from a Nationwide Survey of 872 Respondents Age 18-34

Celinda Lake and Joshua UlibarriLake Research PartnersWashington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NYLakeResearch.com202.776.9066

Christine Matthews Bellwether Research & Consulting Alexandria, VABellwether-research.com703.650.5203

43

Key Takeaways

• Juggling Hope in Tough Times. Members of the Millennial generation remain optimistic about their future and the future of their generation when it comes to achieving the American Dream. However, at the same time they feel economic anxiety and that things have gotten harder over the last four years. A plurality feels their generation may be worse off than their parents.

• A Tough Start with a Long Road Ahead. Young people demonstrate that they have had a tough start to adulthood. A majority of young Americans perceive their personal finances as just fair or poor. Furthermore, being decades away from retirement, a significant share is already experiencing intense worry about being unable to save enough for their retirement.

• An ambitious agenda for Elected leaders. As a result of the above - they believe that our elected leaders should focus on creating jobs and growing the economy, making college and more training affordable, and ensuring that Social Security is available for their generation.

44

A majority of young Americans rate their personal financial situation as just fair or poor. Just 1 in 16 perceive their financial situation as excellent. There is not a great deal of intensity in any particular direction, with most deciding between just fair or poor.

How would you rate your personal current financial situation - excellent, good, just fair, or poor?

Excellent/ good Just fair/ poor Don't know

48 52

17 15

Personal financial situation

-4

Darker colors used to indicate greater intensity.

45

Just 1 in 3 young Americans earn more than $30,000 per year. African-Americans and Latinos earn less than their young white counterparts, especially white men. Education, unsurprisingly, is a big part of earning potential.

Below $30K Above $30K Don't know/ refused

56

32

12

Personal income

In which of the following ranges did your personal income fall last year, before taxes?

[IF REFUSED OR Don’t know] Could you tell me if your annual personal income is below or above 30 thousand dollars?

Most likely to earn less than $30K:•Age 18-24 – 76%•High school or less – 74% •African-Americans – 69% •Latinos – 67% •Independents – 63% Most likely to earn more than $30K:

•College graduate or post-grad – 58% •Republican men – 46% •Age 25-34 – 44% •Strong Republican – 44% •White men – 43%

46

Despite mixed emotions on their personal economic situation, most young Americans say that their earnings have increased over the past four years. However, 1 in 6 say that they have decreased in that time period.

Increased Decreased Stayed the same Don't know

53

16

30

1

Earnings in the past four years

[IF EMPLOYED]: In the last four years have your earnings increased, decreased or stayed the same?

Asked only of those respondents who said they were employed either full- or part-time.

47

Regardless of the increased income, for many, especially minorities, it has become harder to make ends meet over the past four years, with more than 1 in 4 saying it has become much harder.

Thinking about the last four years and your ability to make ends meet and pay your bills, would you say it has become much harder, somewhat harder, somewhat easier, or much easier to make ends meet??

Much/ somewhat easier

Much/ somewhat harder

No different Don't know

20

68

1015

27

Making ends meet now versus four years ago

-48

Darker colors used to indicate greater intensity.

Most likely to say it has become much harder to make ends meet: •Unemployed – 42% •African-American women – 36%•Latino men – 34% •African-Americans – 33% •Latinos – 32%

48

Even as half say their personal earnings have increased in the last four years, four in ten say they have fallen into greater debt within the past four years.

Yes Not really Don't know

39

60

1

Increase in personal debt in the past 4 years

Has your personal debt increased in the last four years, or not really?

49

Almost 3 in 10 do not have health insurance. The unemployed, those employed part-time, those with a diverse ethnic background, and young males are most likely to live without coverage.

Have insurance/ covered by a plan

No insurance/ not covered by a plan

Don't know

71

27

2

Health insurance coverage

Right now, are you personally covered by any form of health insurance or health plan, or do you not have insurance at this time?

Most likely have health insurance: •Republicans age 18-24 – 86% •College-educated women – 86%•Income $30K and more – 86%•Republican women – 82%•4-year college graduates – 81%

Most likely not to have health insurance: •Unemployed – 46%•Employed part-time – 38% •African-Americans age 18-24 – 37%•Latinos – 36% •Men age 18-24 – 35%

50

You're covered under your work insurance

You're covered under your parents' plan

You're covered under your spouse or partner's plan where they work

You have government health insurance such as Medicaid

You buy your own insurance

You have a plan through school

Other

41

18

14

14

7

4

2

Health insurance coverage

Most with health insurance have it through their place of work or their parents’ plan.

[IF INSURANCE]: Which of the following best describes your health insurance coverage:

51

Cannot afford health insurance

You choose not to have health insurance

Employer does not offer health insurance as a benefit

Insurance companies refuse to insure you

Something else/ other

Don't know

52

17

15

4

9

3

Reasons for no health insurance

Healthcare affordability is the key issue for those without health insurance. Just 1 in 6 of the uninsured choose not to have health insurance.

[IF INSURANCE]: Which of the following best describes your health insurance coverage:

52

Because of the current economy, almost 1 in 2 young Americans have delayed their plans to purchase a home. Many have also paused on entrepreneurship and education.

Here are some things other people in your generation have said they have delayed because of the current economy. Please tell me if you have delayed that decision because of the economy and its impact on you.

Purchasing a home

Starting a business

Starting or continuing college or other training

Moving out from family and living on your own

Starting a family

Getting married

53

59

61

67

68

73

46

38

38

33

30

25

Delaying things because of the economy

Yes, delayed NoDon’t know

3

1

1

0

2

2

53

Regardless of the current economic environment, a majority still believes that everyone has an equal shot at being financially secure if they work hard and play by the rules. Hard work, along with education, are key components of achieving the American Dream.

Equal shot Stay in the group you were born

Depends Don't know

5139

82

Economic opportunity in America

Here are two different statements about economic opportunity in America. Tell me which one is closer to your opinion even if neither is perfect: In America, everyone has an equal shot at being financially secure if they work hard and play by the rulesIn America, if you are born into one economic group you are likely to stay in that group because the rules favor a few

Asked of one half of the total sample.

54

Even in this economy, most believe that the American Dream is still achievable. However, more are optimistic about their own chances than are about the rest of their generation.

When it comes to most people in your generation, do you think the American Dream is still achievable or do you think it has become too hard to obtain and is unachievable for most people in your generation?

And how about for you personally, do you think the American Dream is achievable or do you think it is too hard to obtain and is unachievable for you personally?

Still achievable

Unachievable Don't know Still achievable

Unachievable Don't know

69

26

4

77

194

The American Dream

For most people in your generation For you personally

*In a recent nationwide survey conducted by Lake Research Partners among all American adults, 70% said that the American Dream is still alive, but just 68% said that they have already achieved it or will achieve it themselves. The wordings of the questions was similar, but not exact.

A great deal/ a lot Not at all/ a little/ some Don't know

3511 2

57

10

41

Concern about the middle class disappearing

A majority is concerned that the middle class may be disappearing. More than 1 in 3 say they are worried a great deal, while just 11 percent say they are not worried at all.

55

How much does it concern you that the middle class may be disappearing - a great deal, a lot, some, a little, or not at all?

+16

Darker colors used to indicate greater intensity.

Creating jobs and growing the economy

Making a college education more affordable

Protecting health care services and access for low-income

people

Making sure Social Security is available for people in my

generation

Making post-high school ed-ucation and training more af -

fordable

91

84

82

81

84

9

14

17

17

15

81

68

65

65

63

2

4

4

5

3

Priorities for Congress

56

The economy and jobs are not the only issue the youth wants Congress to focus on. Education, health care, and Social Security are also top priorities for many.

Here are some issues other people have raised as priorities for Congress. For each one, please tell me if you think that should be the TOP priority, a priority but not the top, somewhat of a priority, or a low priority.[PROBE]: Should that be the TOP priority, a priority but not the top, somewhat of a priority, or a low priority.

Net

+70

+82

+65

+69

Less of a priority The top/ a priorityDon’t know

1

1

1

1

Asked of one half of the total sample.

+64 2

Increasing financial aid and making loans more affordable for college and post-high school

education and training

Investing in programs that provide new skills

training for unemployed people

Investing tax dollars in in-frastructure jobs like fix-ing roads, bridges, and

schools

88

89

85

11

9

13

62

60

55

4

4

4

Ways to make the economy stronger

As the top remedies for the struggling economy, young Americans are most likely to support making education more affordable and investing in training for unemployed people.

57Here are some things other people have said can help make the economy stronger. For each one please tell me whether you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each action.[PROBE]: Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose

Net

+80

+77

Oppose SupportDon’t know

2

1

Asked of one half of the total sample.

+72 2

58

A plurality of young Americans identify with the Democratic Party, almost 1 in 4 are closer to the GOP, while 1 in 5 say they are independent.

Democrat Independent Republican Other Don't know

40

1823

8 11

Party Identification

Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an independent, or something else?[IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT:] Do you consider yourself a strong (Republican/Democrat) or a not-so-strong (Republican/Democrat)? [IF INDEPENDENT:] Would you say that you lean more toward the Republicans or more toward the Democrats?

+17

59

4 in 5 young Americans say it is at least somewhat likely that they are going to vote in the 2012 election. However, only 61% are very likely to vote in next year’s election.

What is the likelihood that you will vote in next year’s election for President, Congress, and other offices – are you very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all to vote?

Very/ somewhat likely Not very/ not at all likely Don't know

81

182

61

9

Likelihood to vote in the 2012 election

+63

Darker colors used to indicate greater intensity.

60

Overall, Republicans and Democrats are equally likely to say they are going to vote next year. The difference, however, is in intensity with Republicans 10 percentage points more intense in their likelihood to vote.

Very/ somewhat

likely

Not very/ not at all

likely

Don't know Very/ somewhat

likely

Not very/ not at all

likely

Don't know Very/ somewhat

likely

Not very/ not at all

likely

Don't know

86

131

76

22

2

89

9 2

66

5

55

11

76

5

Likelihood to vote in 2012 by party identification

Democrats Republicans

+80+73

Darker colors used to indicate greater intensity.

What is the likelihood that you will vote in next year’s election for President, Congress, and other offices – are you very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all to vote?

Independents

+54

61

Methodology

• Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research & Consulting designed and administered this survey that was conducted by telephone using professional interviewers from September 25 to October 4, 2011. This nationwide survey reached a total of 872 adults age 18 to 34.

• The sample included 472 young adults reached on landlines and 400 young adults reached on cellphones. The two samples were weighted together so that cell dominant people (no landline or exclusively cell) account for 51% of the completed interviews.

• The margin of error for the whole sample is +/-3.32 percentage points. The sampling error for sub-groups is greater.

Celinda Lakeclake@lakeresearch.com

Joshua Ulibarri julibarri@lakeresearch.com

Washington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NYLakeResearch.com202.776.9066

Alexandria, VABellwether-research.com703.650.5203

Christine Matthews cmatthews@bellwether-research.com

VISIT STATEOFYOUNGAMERICA.ORG FOR MORE INFO