Millennials:
Have They Received a Bad Rap? Part 2

In my November newsletter I began addressing the Millennial generation (born between 1980 and 2000), also referred to as Gen Y.

According to the Pew Research Center, Millennials are "confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change." Approximately 75% have created a personal profile on social media, 40% have a tattoo (many more than one) and 25% have a piercing in a place other than their ear lobe. They are also the least overtly religious in modern times. Here are some demographics that are favorable and have implications for the workforce:

• Millennials are on course to become the most educated generation in American history, a trend driven largely by the demands of a modern knowledge-based economy, but most likely accelerated in recent years by the millions of 20-somethings enrolling in graduate schools, colleges or community colleges in part because they can’t find a job. Among 18 to 24 year olds a record share — 39.6% — was enrolled in college as of 2008, according to census data.
  
  
• A majority say that the older generation is superior to the younger generation when it comes to moral values and work ethic. This may explain why Boomers often say the Millennials don't share the same "work ethic."

• Millennials have a distinctive reason for feeling distinctive. In response to an open-ended follow-up question, 24% say it’s because of their use of technology. Gen Xers also cite technology as their generation’s biggest source of distinctiveness, but far fewer-just 12%-say this. Remember Millennials cut their teeth on technology-they can make a Gen X look like an amateur when it comes to technology know how.

Browse the archives of Audrey’s 2006 to date- Smart Talk Columns on her web! Simply visit www.audreynelson.com and click on “Newsletters.”

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