Now that the 2012 election is over, the generational breakdown of the vote is no longer a matter of speculation but one of record. Exit polling tells which age groups showed up and for whom they voted, a long with a raft of other demographic data. One of the key questions we looked at going into the election was generational turnout, particularly of Millennials, which proved decisive in the 2008 race. Going into the election, polls indicated that Millennials still favored the incumbent but were likely to turn out less. In the end, Millennials actually increased their share of the… Read More
Categories: Voting BehaviorGeneration X has been notoriously reluctant to embrace appropriate retirement investments. A new Pew study offers a clue as to why: they may be too afraid to even look at them. The study showed that Xers are more afraid than any other generation that their retirement will be accompanied by poverty and destitution. Nearly half (49%) of Xers are not confident they will ever have enough to retire. The fear peaks in those around 38 years old. 53% of them lack confidence about retirement. Among other generations, those figures are in the high 30s/low 40s. This fear corresponds to a… Read More
Categories: Generations, WorkThe United States military is the top employer of Millennials in the US, according to an innovative survey by Millennial Branding. The survey extracted employment data from 4 million Millennial Facebook profiles. It also found that Wal-Mart employs more Millennials than any other private sector employers. Rounding out the top 5 are Starbucks, Target, and Best Buy. Not surprisingly, food and retail chains that offer entry-level employment opportunities, suited to Millennials’ life stage, dominate the list. Apple is the top tech employer, likely due to their large number of retail outlets. Millennials are actually more likely to work for a… Read More
Categories: WorkplaceGood article in Forbes blog on parents getting involved with their kids job. I had a long conversation with a client last week over this very thing and many in the audience were incredulous that something like this would be happening out there. It is indeed and is coming to a workplace near you soon! http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/03/13/youth-in-the-office-are-your-parents-meddling-in-your-career/
Categories: Baby Boomers, GenerationsTypically, tax season brings a flurry of interest in IRAs as a tax sheltered way of socking away a few extra bucks for retirement. This year, though, well fewer than half of Millennial and Gen X investors will contribute to IRAs compared with over 70% last year. The sharp drop in interest in IRAs is attributable to economic insecurity. 32% said they were feeling too poor to contribute and 56% said they needed the money for everyday expenses or to pay down debt. 14% cited fears of market volatility and 12% blamed job uncertainty. “Given their economic fears, it is… Read More
Categories: Recession Economy, WorkMillennials are looking for jobs that offer training and the chance to move up, according to new survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “Opportunities for career progression” is the most attractive feature of a prospective employer, cited by 52% of Millennials surveyed. Salary came in second at 44% and training and education third at 35%. Most Millennials reported having to make some compromises of their expectations to find employment such as taking a lower salary or moving from a preferred location. However, most of them (59%) said they were still looking for employers who shared their values of corporate responsibility and most… Read More
Categories: UncategorizedA new study by comScore shows that Millennials are more responsive to ads they view when watching “digital” content than they are to ads they see on TV. The study measured the “lift,” or influence on brand preference, that each ad medium produces. It shows that while Millennials are less likely to influenced by advertising than any other generation, that difference disappears in the case of digital advertising. In general, the study shows, younger generations are less impressed with ads than older ones. In fact the average “lift” for Boomers and Matures is almost 50% higher than for Millennials for… Read More
Categories: Advertising, BlogGiven the depth of the Great Recession and its enduring effects on the economy, it’s always seemed likely that it would be a formative experience for Millennials. Formative experiences occur in a generation’s youth and often come in the form of drastic economic and cultural upheavals. The Great Recession fits that description for Millennials and a recent Pew survey confirms that it is shaping their outlook for years to come. According to the survey, Millennials see their own generation as hardest-hit by the downturn. Most other generations agree. Only 20% report themselves “very satisfied” with their economic condition and only… Read More
Categories: Recession EconomyAlthough Baby Boomers are known as the “forever young” generation, Generation X has now surpassed them in seeking cosmetic surgery and other procedures that help maintain a youthful appearance. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Gen Xers (now aged 31-45) accounted for 43% of all aesthetic surgical procedures last year. Baby Boomers accounted for just 28%. Baby Boomers may be less interested in cosmetic surgery as they retire while Gen Xers who are reaching their career peaks may feel more pressure to “maintain appearances.” Gen Xers are also more likely to have postponed milestones of adulthood like… Read More
Categories: Baby BoomersMany of the oldest, or “Leading Edge” Baby Boomers are staying on the job longer because they like to work or they haven’t saved enough for retirement. But a good number of them simply wish they had that option. Older Boomers who have lost their jobs due to the recession are having a tough time getting back into the workforce, reports the Wall Street Journal. The unemployment rate among those ages 55-64 is about 6.5%. That’s below the national average but twice the rate for Boomers of just five years ago. More significant is the “underemployment” rate that also counts… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, Work