PrintJust 6 in 10 young people employed; half part-time
Americans under 30 are going to remember the Obama presidency for a long time. These numbers on unemployment for the young are almost as bad as Greece or Spain.
A comprehensive new Harvard University report on Americans under 30, the so-called Millennials, shows that the economy is having a crushing impact, with just 62 percent working, and of those, half are toiling at part-time jobs.
The report, released by Harvard's Institute of Politics, paints a depressing economic portrait of young Americans, many of whom are stuck with huge college tuition bills and little chance of finding a high-paying job.
But over half, or 59 percent of those aged 18-29, have gone to college and The report reveals that time in college is a better sign of social status than income, mostly because jobs aren't available.
Contrary to common media wisdom, most younger Americans did not vote in the last election. Of the 46 million Millennials, just half voted. "Although turnout was higher than it was in 1996 and 2000, it was right back to where it has been consistently from 1976-1992," said The report compiled by the National Conference on Citizenship, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University's Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Harvard University's Institute of Politics, and Mobilize.org.
Another blow to conventional wisdom: Younger Americans interact less than their baby boomer parents, apparently choosing Facebook over facetime. "Conventional group membership, attendance at meetings, working with neighbors, trusting other people, reading the news, union membership and religious participation are all down for young people since the 1970s," said The report provided to Secrets.
You wonder why such a large majority of Americans under 30 support the president when he has so clearly failed. Simple: Republicans have failed utterly to make a compelling argument for their point of view. That, and it may be harder these days to penetrate the media screen erected to stop counter ideas from taking root.
But the next generation is still up for grabs. Republicans would do well to make their case.
