A 2011 study on Gen Xers brought some interesting statistics to light. In this study, Gen X was considered those born from 1965-1978. Those years are really more accurate than the sometimes referred to 1961-1981 reference for Xers. The study by the Center for Work-Life Policy used a survey of 2,952 college educated Gen Xers, as well as one-on-one interviews and ten focus groups.
With regards to Gen X men and women who have chosen not to have children, the study cited “strong career ambition”, 60+ hour work weeks for high wage earners, and the current economic climate, as the reasons most given by the Xers who have chosen to remain childless. 32% of Gen X men and 43% of Gen X women do not have children.
They also found that Generation X is one of the most college educated generations yet, with 1/3 of Xers holding bachelor’s degrees and about 11% who have graduate degrees. It would be interesting to see what the numbers would show if they included two year college degrees.
When it comes to job satisfaction, 41% of Generation Xers say they are not satisfied with the amount of advancement available in their current jobs, and 49% feel like they are completely stuck. A big reason for the Xers not getting the career advancement they desire is that Baby Boomers are not retiring as quickly as expected, because they too must face a tough economy. This has caused some resentment and frustration among the younger workers who feel like time is wasting away.
So what dictates the career choices Gen Xers are making? Though most are years out of college, 43% of us are still paying off student loans and we look for a job that can help us get out of that debt. Credit card debt was cited by 75% of respondents as an important reason for the career choices they have made. Economically, the study showed that 91% of Gen X women and 68% of Gen X men are part of a “dual-earning couple”, and that 36% of Gen X women out-earn their spouses.
The study says it best, “While these economic woes have impacted most generations, they have hit Gen X the hardest in their work lives.” We have dealt with stock market crashes, a near recession and a housing slump, but Gen X is a strong generation made up of people who were once called slackers. All that Xers have overcome has taught us to be resilient and flexible. What we won’t put up with is being walked on or overlooked.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to subscribe to receive notification of future National Generation X Examinerarticles, simply add your email address to the "Subscribe" button at the top of the page. Comments are always welcome. Please feel free to join our discussions on The National Generation X Facebook fan page by clicking on this link and "liking" the page!
Comments