Lack of Job Growth Ongoing Threat to Dreams and Careers of Young Americans 18-29, Unemployment Remains at 9.1% in August

News provided by

Generation Opportunity

Sep 02, 2011, 10:02 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the eve of Labor Day weekend, and in advance of the day America traditionally recognizes the many contributions of its workers, Generation Opportunity issued the following statement in response to the August jobs numbers released by the United States Department of Labor – which revealed the unemployment rate remains at 9.1%.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110805/DC48058LOGO)

"Young Americans watched and waited patiently for elected leaders to finish their summer travel and vacations while their own dreams were put on hold by unemployment and underemployment.  Elected leaders in both parties should demonstrate empathy and responsiveness toward the millions of people impacted by the poor economy and return to Washington with a commitment to get government out of the way of those who actually know what it takes to create more jobs," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and a former Chief of Staff for the US Department of Labor.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON DELAYED DREAMS AND THE ECONOMY

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlights of results for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below.

Delayed Dreams - Human Cost of the Bad Economy on Millennials:

  • Only 31% of Millennials are satisfied with President Obama's handling of youth unemployment.
  • 77% either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
    • 44% delay buying a home;
    • 28% delay saving for retirement;
    • 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
    • 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
    • 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
    • 23% delay starting a family;
    • 18% delay getting married

Millennials on Government Spending and the Creation of More Economic Opportunity:

  • 76% of overall Millennials would favor a decrease over an increase in federal spending from its current level if given the chance to set America's fiscal priorities.
  • 59% of overall Millennials agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.
  • 53% of overall Millennials agree if taxes on business profits were reduced, companies would be more likely to hire.

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 announced its first communications platform – "Being American," a Facebook page that has already amassed a fan base of more than 993,000.  The page posts links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General 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 and visit "Being American" on Facebook by clicking here.

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

CONTACT: Matthew Faraci  
202-997-1636
EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity

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