Generation Opportunity Announces New Poll Results of 18 to 29 Year Olds in North Carolina

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Sep 04, 2012, 03:12 ET

88 Percent of Tar Heel State Millennials Say the Poor Economy Impacts Daily Life, 84 Percent Say Key Life Decisions in Jeopardy

Only 37 percent of North Carolina's 18-29 year olds say today's leaders represent their interests, while 78 percent intend to vote in the presidential election

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity, the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in North Carolina and the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (18-29 years old) on the important economic issues facing the nation, released new polling data today on Millennials as the 2012 presidential election nears. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has amassed a following of over 4 million fans on Facebook and is actively organizing Millennials across the country through grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts.

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"The sad reality is that young people in North Carolina are feeling the impact of the poor economy on a daily basis and increasingly believe that their elected representatives in Washington have failed them. Job-killing regulations and economic policies that discourage hiring are disproportionally affecting young Americans, devastating an entire generation of North Carolinians. Millions of 18 to 29 year olds are getting a raw deal and they know it," said Paul T. Conway, president of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor. "This survey confirmed what we have been hearing on the ground for months: young people don't feel like their elected officials are looking out for them, and they're planning to show up to the polls in big numbers this November to make their voices heard."

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, conducted a statewide online survey of 500 North Carolina adults ages 18-29 between July 27 and August 14, 2012.

Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old statewide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted.

The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 4.4 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained.

88% of North Carolina's 18-29 year olds changed some aspect of their day-to-day lives because of the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):

55% - reduced entertainment budget;
44% - cut back on gifts for friends and family;
47% - reduced grocery/food budget;
42% - skipped a vacation;
41% - taken active steps to reduce home energy costs;
41% - driven less/relied more on public transit;
34% - tried to find an additional job;
22% - changed living situation (moved in with family, taken extra roommates, downgraded apartment or home);
30% - sold personal items or property (cars, electronic appliances, or other possessions);
22% - skipped a wedding, family reunion, or other significant social event;
2% - Other, specified;
8% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

79% of 18-29 year olds in North Carolina have delayed or might not do at least one major life event due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):

39% - Buy my own place;
29% - Start a family;
26% - Save for retirement;
25% - Go back to school/getting more education or training;
25% - Pay off student loans or other debt;
25% - Change jobs/cities;
22% - Get married;
17% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

64% of North Carolina Millennials believe the availability of more quality, full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.

79% believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.

Only 37% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.

78% of 18-29 year olds in North Carolina plan to vote in the election for President this year.

Generation Opportunity field organizers and volunteers have engaged tens of thousands of people at various events across North Carolina over the course of the past year. They have trained students on college campuses, co-sponsored trade shows and industry summits, participated in street fairs and local festivals, and attended happy hours for young professionals.

Field activities over the past year include the NC Chamber of Commerce's Education Summit in Greensboro, the Manufacturing Summit in Raleigh, the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival in Cary, UNC Chapel Hill's Fall Festival, the Wilmington Chamber's BizMix and Business Expo, the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival, the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rally, the Speed Street/600 Festival in Uptown Charlotte, and the 53^rd annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Generation Opportunity is a member of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, as well as the local Chambers in Burgaw, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Wilmington.

In recent months, Generation Opportunity field teams have visited the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Central Piedmont Community College, Guilford Technical Community College, UNC Greensboro, Wake Technical Community College, UNC Charlotte, and NC State University. Last fall, grassroots organizers also met with and trained students from High Point University, Campbell University, Gardner-Webb University, and Craven Community College at the 2011 American Student Government Association (ASGA) Conference.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization's social media platforms – "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," "Lower Taxes by GO," "Keep Texas Awesome," "Jersey Proud," and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook – have amassed a total fan base of more than 4 million. The pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here, "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here, "Lower Taxes by GO" on Facebook here, "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here, "Jersey Proud" on Facebook here, and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generacion Oportunidad – click here.

CONTACT:
Matthew Faraci – 202-997-1636 | EMAIL
David Pasch – 202-230-7947 | EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity