Graduates of UCSB College of Engineering pose for graduation photo. (Photo Credit: Glenn Beltz/Flickr)
The nation is slowly, but surely recovering from the Great Recession, as jobs are added and wages grow. At first glance, the numbers look good, but it’s a mixed bag for Millennials, especially those living in California.
In a new report issued by Young Invincibles titled, “Where Do Young Adults Work,” the research shows Millennials are finding employment. The catch is that the wages for the generation are going down, which is not good news to young adults who are possibly saddled with student debt and the rising cost of living.
The report showed the industries young adults have gravitated toward in all 50 states. In California, the business and professional sector is the most popular area for Millennials. According to Tom Allison, co-author of the study along with Konrad Mugglestone, Millennials are getting jobs, but they are still feeling the effects of the recession and that will have ripple effects into the future.
“So, in 2008 those jobs in professional and business earned a median wage of just under $40,000,” said Allison. “But in 2013, which is the most recent data available, the median wage was just under $38,000. That reduction of $2,000 in wages in the last few years, that’s money that could be going to saving up for a house, starting a family and of course paying off the massive amount of student loan debt that we know young people are dealing with.”
And for younger Millennials, ages 18-24, the jobs are in a different category. “We’re definitely seeing a growth in the low-skilled, low-waged jobs over time,” said Allison. “Unfortunately, the jobs that are available and the jobs that young people can get are overwhelmingly in retail and wholesale and leisure and hospitality.” But, he added that many of the younger Millennials are also attending school while working in those fields. So, it may not be a long-term issue.
Now that these numbers affirm the problem, what is the solution? The report recommends several policy solutions including increasing apprenticeships, boosting the Pell grant to match the true cost of college and holding post-secondary institutions accountable so that degrees lead to jobs.
One recommendation, giving students and families the best information about where to go to college and which fields of study lead to high-demand jobs, is already in the works in California. AB2148, signed by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this year and supported by members of the Workforce Action Team, requires that the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) work with the Governor to gather data from all the agencies involved in career technical programs and workforce investment to better track students’ progress while in school and also when they are out in the labor market.
Young Invincibles is also working with the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to create a mobile app that will give students, particularly those in underserved communities, information on education pathways that lead to high-demand jobs.
And, Allison has advice to young adults deciding on their future; “Be clear-eyed about the economic situation in California and across the country and try and come up with a plan for your post-secondary education or even job training that’s going to equip you with the skills that’s going to get you the good job – a job that’s not only going to provide a certain level of economic stability, but also something that you’re happy with.”
Wanafunzi wa chuo cha UCSB College of Engineering wanajipiga picha kwa ajili ya kuhitimu. (Glenn Beltz, Flickr) Nchi hiyo inarejesha polepole, lakini kwa hakika kutoka kwa Mshuko Mkubwa wa Kiuchumi, kwani kazi zinaongezwa na mishahara inakua. Kwa mtazamo wa kwanza, idadi inaonekana nzuri, lakini ni mfuko mchanganyiko kwa Millennials, hasa wale wanaoishi California. Katika ripoti mpya iliyotolewa na Young Invincibles yenye kichwa, "Where Do Young Adults Work", utafiti unaonyesha Millennials wanapata kazi. "Kushindwa kwa uchumi ni kwamba mishahara ya kizazi hicho inashuka, ambayo si habari njema kwa vijana ambao huenda wakawa na madeni ya wanafunzi na kuongezeka kwa gharama za maisha.""" Ripoti hiyo ilionyesha kuwa vijana wachache walichagua kuendesha biashara katika majimbo yote 50. Katika California, sekta ya biashara na kitaaluma ni eneo maarufu zaidi kwa Millennials. "Kulingana na Tom Allison, mwandishi mwenza wa utafiti huo pamoja na Konrad Mugglestone, ""Millennials wanapata kazi, lakini bado wanahisi athari za mfumuko wa uchumi na hiyo itakuwa na athari za kuenea katika siku zijazo.""" "Kwa hivyo, katika kazi hizo za kitaaluma na biashara, mshahara wa wastani wa mwaka 2008 ulikuwa chini ya dola 40,000,"" alisema Allison." "Kwa mujibu wa takwimu za mwaka 2013 zilizopatikana, mshahara wa wastani wa wafanyakazi wa kampuni hiyo ulikuwa chini ya dola 38,000.""" "Kupungua kwa mshahara wa $ 2,000 katika miaka michache iliyopita ni pesa ambazo zinaweza kutumiwa kuokoa nyumba, kuanzisha familia na, kwa kweli, kulipa kiasi kikubwa cha deni la mkopo wa mwanafunzi ambao tunajua vijana wanashughulika nao. ""Na kwa vijana wa Milenia, umri wa miaka 18-24, kazi ziko katika jamii tofauti." "Hakika tunaona ukuaji wa kazi zenye ujuzi mdogo, zenye mshahara mdogo kwa muda", alisema Allison. "Kwa bahati mbaya, kazi zinazopatikana na kazi ambazo vijana wanaweza kupata ni nyingi katika rejareja na rejareja na burudani na ukarimu. ""Lakini, aliongeza kwamba wengi wa vijana wa Milenia pia wanahudhuria shule wakati wa kufanya kazi katika nyanja hizo." Kwa hiyo, huenda isiwe tatizo la muda mrefu. Sasa kwa kuwa namba hizi zinathibitisha tatizo hilo, suluhisho ni nini? Ripoti hiyo inapendekeza suluhisho kadhaa za sera, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuongeza mafunzo, kuongeza ruzuku ya Pell ili kufanana na gharama halisi ya chuo kikuu na kushikilia taasisi za baada ya sekondari kuwajibika ili digrii ziweze kuongoza kwa kazi. "Kulingana na ripoti hiyo, ""kuwapa wanafunzi na familia habari bora kuhusu wapi kwenda chuo kikuu na ni nyanja zipi za masomo zinazoongoza kwa kazi za mahitaji ya juu"" tayari ni kazi katika California." "Barua ya Binafsi ya California (AB2148) iliyosainiwa na Gavana Jerry Brown mapema mwaka huu na kuungwa mkono na wanachama wa Timu ya Hatua ya Wafanyakazi, inahitaji Bodi ya Uwekezaji wa Wafanyakazi wa California (CWIB) kufanya kazi na Gavana kukusanya data kutoka kwa mashirika yote yanayohusika katika mipango ya kitaaluma na uwekezaji wa wafanyikazi ili kufuatilia maendeleo ya wanafunzi wakati wa shule na pia wakati wa soko la kazi. """ Young Invincibles pia inafanya kazi na Foundation for California Community Colleges na Ofisi ya Kansela ya Chuo Kikuu cha Jumuiya ya California kuunda programu ya rununu ambayo itawapa wanafunzi, haswa wale katika jamii zisizo na huduma, habari juu ya njia za elimu zinazoongoza kwa kazi za mahitaji ya juu. "Alison ana ushauri kwa vijana wanaochagua wakati wao ujao: ""Kuwa na macho wazi juu ya hali ya kiuchumi huko California na kote nchini na jaribu na kuja na mpango wa elimu yako ya baada ya sekondari au hata mafunzo ya kazi ambayo itakupa ujuzi ambao utakupata kazi nzuri - kazi ambayo itakupa kiwango fulani cha utulivu wa kiuchumi, lakini pia kitu ambacho unafurahi nacho."""