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Millennials: Work, Education, and Pop Culture

Millennials Most Educated Generation Thus Far

By Katrina ThornleyPublished 7 years ago 4 min read
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Millennials are looked at with scorn by older generations and presented as lazy and entitled by pop culture. Often they are poked fun at in sitcoms, with their more relaxed views of the world and their political opinions. They are shown preaching peace and acceptance while forgetting deadlines and tasks. After the recent election, their very emotional responses were met with outrage (in some cases very rightfully so as classes were cancelled and college exams rescheduled).

Right now, 12.8% of Millennials are unemployed in the U.S. and statistics show that a large portion of them still live at home with their parents. However, upon further investigation, it is found that college enrollments are the highest they've ever been.

So what does this mean?

Are Millennials lazy and entitled like society has been leading us to believe? Do they really fit into the stereotype that is portrayed in popular culture and daily life?

Well... no, not really.

First: 36% of the Millennial population still "lives at home."

In this census, college dormitories are synonymous with living with parents. In reality, it is not that the individual is living with their parents, but is instead in a college dormitory working on an education to land a higher paying job.

Second: The unemployment rate is 12.8%, but the individuals are not completely unemployed; they're just not earning payment for what is employing their time.

A majority of the individuals that are unemployed are full-time college students or recent graduates in search of a job that best fits their skills, degree, and area of study.

Third: Baby Boomers and Generation X claim that Millennials are entitled and don't want to work for the jobs they feel they deserve.

Upon further investigation this is also found to be false. Shocking right? Not really if you take the time to discuss the current economic status of America with a millennial instead of going off of the image portrayed by pop culture. In the last five years it has been found that 47% of Millennials in management positions have started working more hours, while only 38% of Generation X and 28% of Baby Boomers have increased their workload. Instead of relaxing in positions of leadership, they work harder to prove they are qualified for the position. Instead of believing they deserve the promotion to manager, they show appreciation by working more. Millennials in leadership positions are also more likely to use technology to ensure the success of the work they are doing.

Fourth: Are Millennials unloyal?

Many complain about younger employees job hopping and not remaining faithful to a company for any amount of time. But again, this is also false when statistics are analyzed. They are continuing the same belief as Gen X and Baby Boomers. They want to be compensated for their time, does this make them entitled? Not in the slightest. Almost 90% of Millennials, when asked, would stay at a job if they were promised annual raises and upward mobility (CNBC). Many employers currently do not offer these opportunities to their employees. Workers do not quit jobs, but instead quit the management they are under. They may truly enjoy the work they do, but if they are not appreciated they are going to look elsewhere. This is not just a Millennial trait, it is a human trait.

A majority of the Millennial population is not lazy, nor do they present themselves as "entitled." Of course, like in any generation, there are bad seeds that fit into the stereotype created by pop culture. Just look to popular artists to find examples of this. Millennials are focused on education and desire "life experiences rather than" the accumulation of material wealth (Pacific Institute). Previous generations have been focused on moving forward financially while the newest generation hitting the workforce (by 2020 it is hypothesized they will make up 75% of the workforce in the US) are more liberal in their desires. Millennials are the highest educated generation in the United States so far, further supporting the notion that they are not lazy, but instead focus their attention on other means of work. Instead of working with their hands, many have chosen to work with their minds causing other generations to use the terms "lazy" and "entitled." Statistics show 63% of Millennials value an education, with 44% working to earn their degrees and 19% already graduated. These percentages are far higher than previous generations. Millennials, however, have been able to receive this education through the work of past generations and for that they are grateful.

The current economic status of the U.S. does not promote healthy relationships between the different generations working together. There is blame running rampant: the older blaming the younger for their "lazy" work styles while Millennials respond with "well you destroyed the market entirely." Understanding both sides of the coin is key in working together to not only promote a happy work place, but to eventually build a stronger economy in the U.S.

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About the Creator

Katrina Thornley

Rhode Island based author and poetess with a love for nature and the written word. Works currently available include Arcadians: Lullaby in Nature, Arcadians: Wooden Mystics, 26 Brentwood Avenue & Other Tales, and Kings of Millburrow.

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