In the Shadow of the Great Recession: Experiences and Perspectives of Young Workers - Accessible Version

Figure 1. Distribution of educational attainment
Percent of survey respondents with indicated level of education completed
Education Level Percent
Less than high school 10%
High school diploma or the equivalent GED 29%
Some college, no degree 29%
Associate's degree 9%
Bachelor's degree 16%
Master's, professional, or doctorate degree 5%

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Figure 2. Student status
Percent of respondents who are full-time students, part-time students, or not enrolled as students
Status Percent
Full-time student 23%
Part-time student 9%
Not a student 68%

Note: n = 2,097

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Figure 3. Paid work status
Percent of respondents who are working full-time, working part-time, or not working a paid job
Work status Percent
Full-time paid job 40%
Part-time student 20%
No paid job 40%

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Figure 4. Many students did not receive information about jobs and careers in school
Received information about jobs and careers in…
Answer High school College
Yes 63% 66%
I don't know 11% 10%
No 25% 22%

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Figure 5. Teachers and counselors are the largest source of job and career information
Sources of information about careers and jobs
Source During high school During college
Teacher or counselor 75% 73%
Parent(s) 57% 36%
Friends and family 48% 46%
Online research 39% 61%
Employment services agency 6% 19%
A business where I worked 6% 11%
Other 3% 7%

Note: Number of survey participants: During high school 2,097; During college 1,548

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Figure 6. Loans are the most frequent source of financing for postsecondary education
Financing used to pay for current enrollment (Respondents may select more than one response)
Financing Source Percent
Other grants and scholarships 3%
My employer is paying 8%
My parents are paying with loans 9%
I am paying with cash 17%
I received an academic scholarship 30%
My parents are paying with cash 30%
I am paying with loans 41%

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Figure 7. Less than half report that the financial benefits of postsecondary education are larger than the costs
Perceived value of postsecondary education
Perceived value Percent
The financial benefits are LARGER than the costs 41%
The financial benefits are ABOUT THE SAME as the costs 15%
The financial benefits are SMALLER than the costs 23%
I don't know 21%

Note: n = 1,209

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Figure 8. Most respondents are satisfied with current job arrangements
Respondent satisfaction with their job arrangement
Satisfaction level Percent
Very satisfied 17%
Somewhat satisfied 49%
Somewhat dissatisfied 24%
Very dissatisfied 9%

Note: n = 1,293

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Figure 9. Job satisfaction is driven by compensation and schedule
In their own words, why respondents are satisfied with their job arrangements (data from unstructured responses)
Reason Number
Social environment 7
Benefits 17
Employed during summer 23
Steady job 30
Gain experience/advance career 70
Hours and schedule/attending school 202
Pay/abilty to pay expenses 209

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Figure 10. Lack of job satisfaction is driven by compensation and schedule
In their own words, why respondents are dissatisfied with their job arrangements (Data from unstructured responses)
Reason Number
Work is not steady 7
Disliked management/boss 16
No benefits 19
No career advancement 39
Poor hours (too many/not enough) 70
Pay 202

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Figure 11. Workers with a postsecondary degree have the most opportunity for upward mobility
Job vs. career
Response Postsecondary degree (associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, and/or doctorate) No postsecondary degree/currently enrolled No postsecondary degree/not enrolled Total workers
Just a job 23% 48% 47% 37%
Stepping stone to a career 37% 39% 31% 35%
Career 39% 9% 18% 25%
Number surveyed 743 209 418 1386

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Figure 12. Older respondents are more likely to have a steady job (two years or more)
Job Length Ages 18-21 Ages 22-25 Ages 26-30
Less than 2 months 40% 33% 27%
2 to 6 months 34% 36% 30%
6 months to 1 year 26% 34% 39%
1 to 2 years 24% 39% 37%
More than 2 years 8% 26% 66%

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Figure 13. A consistent schedule is associated with greater job satisfaction
Satisfied with work schedule
Satisfaction Percent
Fairly consistent 59%
Changes day-to-day 41%
Changes week-to-week 31%
Changes month-to-month 24%

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Figure 14. Full-time workers are more likely to earn higher hourly wages than part-time workers
Hourly Pay Full-time workers Part-time workers
Up to $10/hour 32% 75%
$11-$15 /hour 40% 16%
$16-$20 /hour 15% 4%
$21-$25/ hour 5% 2%
$26- $100 /hour 8% 3%

Note: Number of responses: Full-time workers 497; Part-time workers 317

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Figure 15. Respondents who cannot cover their monthly housing expenses typically rely on their parents or other family members for assistance
In their own words, how respondents who cannot cover their monthly household expenses make ends meet (data from unstructured responses)
Reliance Number
Friends 15
Government assistance 16
Savings 20
Spouse 41
Loan 55
Family 63
Parents 140

Note: Number of responses is 520

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Figure 16. Distribution of annual earnings of salaried workers in the survey
Annual earnings of salaried workers Percent
Less than $24,000 per year 26%
$24,001-$42,000 per year 36%
$42,001-60,000 per year 25%
$60,001-$78,000 per year 7%
$78,001-$96,00 per year 3%
$96,001-$240,000 per year 3%

Note: Number of responses is 406

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Figure 17. Working respondents report that health care is the most important benefit associated with a job
Most important benefit
Benefit Percent
Contributions to tax-deferred savings account 2%
Matching contributions to savings accounts 3%
Other 4%
Tuition reimbursement 4%
Professional training 4%
Student loan repayment 6%
Paid sick leave and/or holidays 26%
Health care 50%

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Figure 18. Few workers have held a single full-time job for the past year or five years
Jobs Held Past year Past five years
One full-time job only 29% 14%
One full-time job & part-time work 11% 15%
More than one full-time job 6% 26%
One part-time job only 19% 12%
Two or more part-time jobs (no full-time job) 9% 14%
No job or refused 26% 18%

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Figure 19. Young workers expect greater job stability in the future
Expectation Next year Next five years
One full-time job only 44% 43%
One full-time job & part-time work 15% 23%
More than one full-time job 4% 13%
One part-time job only 14% 5%
Two or more part-time jobs (no full-time job) 4% 3%
No job or refused 19% 14%

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Figure 20. Young workers are generally optimistic
View Percent
Optimistic 45%
Pessimistic 21%
Not sure 34%

Note: Number of responses is 2,097

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Figure 21. Optimistic respondents often attribute their outlook to their level of education of field of study
In their own words, why respondents are optimistic about future job opportunities (Data from unstructured responses)
Reason Respondents
Skills 52
Market/job opportunties 169
Work experience 169
Field/education 316

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Figure 22. Pessimistic respondents often attribute their outlook to economic conditions, a lack of education, and a lack of job experience
In their own words, why respondents are pessimistic about their future job opportunities (Data from unstructured responses)
Reason Respondents
Skills 77
Market/job opportunties 113
Work experience 183
Field/education 264

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Last update: November 18, 2014