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9 Feb, 2012 23:04

The screwed generation?

The screwed generation?

On Thursday an analysis by the Pew Research Center released grim statistics on the recent attitudes toward the economy for Americans 20- 30 years of age.

It is no secret that young America is struggling to find work after getting out of college and college debt has officially surpassed credit card debt in the US.Many young Americans have taken to the streets in protest to the lack of jobs and have joined the Occupy Wall Street movement across the country."Young workers are on the bottom of the ladder, and during a recession like we've had, it's often hard for them to hold on," Kim Parker, associate director of Pew's Social & Demographic Trends project told the AP.Parker acknowledges that these younger Americans have no real outlet to express their outrage and have found refuge in the Occupy movement.Even though Occupy’s push for financial reform has been anything but a bust, this same demographic has suffered bigger revenue losses than any other age group and according to the Associated Press, “are less likely to be employed than at any time since World War II.”The government data details of the Pew survey reaffirms that 41 percent of Americans believe young adults of the nation have felt the impact of the economy more than any other demographic.On the other hand 29 percent say middle-aged Americans have been hit the hardest and 24 percent believe senior citizens 65 and older have felt the worst of the effects.Many blame the government data that illustrates record gaps in employment between young and older employees in the job market.The analysis also revealed that 69 percent of those surveyed think younger adults are having a tougher time than the previous generation to pay for higher education, find employment, purchase property or even save for the future. But not all young Americans are struggling to make ends meet.One third of the 18 to 34 demographic rate their financial status as exceptional, but for the rest employers have taken advantage of these trying times.Employers have found it easier to limit the salary for entry-level positions than to slash the pay of more skilled employees.For some the job market is an on-going battle that could be won and Kim Parker agrees."They have a long way to climb back, and a lot of displaced workers to compete with," she said.But the 20 to 30 age demographics refuses to go out without a fight and many have taken on waiting tables to make ends meet or have taken up a part time job.Many Americans strongly believe the only solution to fix this economic crisis is to take to the polls in 2012 and vote for a candidate that will make the economy their top priority.

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