Labor Day and Young Americans

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Sep 03, 2012, 06:42 ET

Statement by Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor, has issued the following statement:

"Labor Day is a day set aside specifically to honor the achievements of the American worker. But on this Labor Day, as Americans traditionally celebrate with family and friends, the sad reality is that millions of young Americans will not return to a full-time job tomorrow.

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"Through no fault of their own, over twelve percent of young Americans are unemployed and have been denied the opportunity to contribute their talents and to achieve success.

"Due to failed leadership and failed policies over the last three and a half years, their lives and dreams have been delayed. It is no surprise that young adults, union and non-union alike, have little enthusiasm for leaders who defend the status quo while offering no ideas for more economic opportunity.

"Young Americans deserve more from their leaders and want solutions that place a higher value on the growth of businesses and opportunity as opposed to government."

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For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,003 American adults ages 18-29 between July 27 and July 31, 2012. This study has a +/-3.1% margin of error at a 95% confidence interval, and sampling quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old nationwide population with regard to race, region, and gender.

89% of young people ages 18-29 say the current state of the economy is impacting their day-to-day lives (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 51% reduced their entertainment budget;
- 43% reduced their grocery/food budget;
- 43% cut back on gifts for friends and family;
- 40% skipped a vacation;
- 38% driven less;
- 36% taken active steps to reduce home energy costs;
- 32% tried to find an additional job;
- 27% sold personal items or property (cars, electronic appliances, or other possessions);
- 26% changed their living situation (moved in with family, taken extra roommates, downgraded apartment or home);
- 17% skipped a wedding, family reunion, or other significant social event;
- 1% other;
- 8% none of the above (accepted only this response);
- 3% do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

84% of young people ages 18-29 had planned to but now might delay or not make at all a major life change or move forward on a major purchase due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 38% - Buy their own place;
- 32% - Go back to school/getting more education or training;
- 31% - Start a family;
- 27% - Change jobs/cities;
- 26% - Pay off student loans or other debt;
- 25% - Save for retirement;
- 23% - Get married;
- 12% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
- 4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

83% of young people ages 18-29 say that current economic conditions have impacted their summer plans (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 53% cut back on entertainment and non-essential social spending like nice meals, spa treatments, bars, and going to the movies;
- 34% had to skip taking a vacation here in the United States;
- 25% will spend the summer looking for a job until one opens up;
- 24% had to work all summer without any vacations;
- 24% will spend the summer working a job they do not like just to make ends meet;
- 19% had to skip taking a vacation abroad to another country;
- 1% other, specified;
- 14% none of the above (accepted only this response);
- 3% do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

64% of young people ages 18-29 believe the availability of more quality, full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.
76% believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.
Only 38% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.
76% of Millennials plan to vote in the election for President this year.

Earlier this month, Generation Opportunity released the non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) unemployment data for Millennials for July 2012:

The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds specifically for July 2012 is 12.7 percent (NSA).
The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year old African-Americans for July 2012 is 22.3 percent (NSA); the youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year old Hispanics for July 2012 is 14.0 percent (NSA); and the youth unemployment rate for 18–29 year old women for July 2012 is 12.6 percent (NSA).
The declining labor participation rate has created an additional 1.715 million young adults that are not counted as "unemployed" by the U.S. Department of Labor because they are not in the labor force, meaning that those young people have given up looking for work due to the lack of jobs.
If the labor force participation rate were factored into the 18-29 youth unemployment calculation, the actual 18-29-unemployment rate would rise to 16.7 percent (NSA).

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