the changing face of america
The R ise of the Mi l lenn ia l Work force by Ray Williams and Matthew Shafer A common stereotype placed on millennials in the workforce is that they are constantly job-hopping. However, research suggests that this label may be misplaced.
NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor suggests that millennial workers are just as likely to stick with their employers as their older counterparts in Generation X.
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In January 2016, 63 percent of employed millennials had worked for their current employer at least 13 months. In February 2000, 60 percent of Gen Xers reported similar job tenure. Looking at longer tenures, 22 percent of millennial workers had been with their employer for at least five years as of 2016, almost the same as the share of Gen X workers, 21.8 percent in 2000. Richard Fry, senior researcher at Pew Research Center, said in a recent article “the job-hopping millennial characterization does not fit the broad millennial workforce.” Deloitte Consulting Group’s annual millennial survey reinforces reports that loyalty among
millennial workers is on the rise because of a desire for stability in a world of uncertainty. American millennials are now more likely to stay with their current employer beyond five years than to leave within two. The atmosphere of threat and turbulence was cited as the reason most would prefer a permanent, full-time job rather than working freelance or on a flexible, short-term basis. Additional key findings include increased pessimism about the future, a positive view of business as a vehicle of positive change, and a fear of automation posing a threat to jobs and creating a sterile workplace.
Demographic Shifts Newly released Census data shows Colorado, the District of Columbia and North Dakota have experienced the largest demographic shifts among millennial workers. Since 2010, Colorado has experienced a 14 percent increase in the millennial population, the District of Columbia a 30 percent increase and North Dakota an 18 percent increase. In the same report, Illinois, Mississippi and New Mexico round out the bottom three states,
experiencing a negative net population shift within the same time period. Illinois had a negative 2.3 percent shift, Mississippi had a negative 4 percent shift and New Mexico a negative 3 percent shift. According to Pew Research Center, millennials have surpassed the baby boomer generation as the largest living population in the United States, leading some states to implement strategies to target this growing demographic. In September 2017, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu implemented the Millennial Advisory Committee after seeing only a 0.2 percent increase in millennials in the workforce since 2010. “The council will offer insights and policy recommendations to attract and retain a millennial workforce and work to address other issues that millennials face all across the Granite State. I look forward to working with the council to develop steps to continue to make sure New Hampshire works for everyone,” Sununu said in a press release. North Dakota’s leaders have also been thoughtful in developing strong workforce
