Many Young Workers Feel Left Out
By ALICE ANN LOVE
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Jennie Smith, 28, wonders when she will
share the rewards of the nation's booming economy, and a new
poll by the AFL-CIO shows there are many young workers like
her.
Despite a masters degree and six years of work experience,
Smith can't find the job she wants as a community college
professor because many schools have replaced full-time
professorships with part-time teaching positions.
She has cobbled together a career teaching classes at community
colleges in two states - Pennsylvania and New Jersey - but
earns just $15,000 a year with no benefits.
``I'm angry,'' Smith said. ``Clearly it's young people who are left
out in the cold.''
More than 90 percent of young workers surveyed for the
AFL-CIO poll said they believe large corporations, top
management and stockholders are doing well, but 42 percent said
the economic situation facing their own families is either ``just
fair,'' ``not so good'' or ``poor.''
Young workers ``see today's jobs as failing to meet the most
basic needs: health care, retirement security and time to spend
with family,'' said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney.
The poll, which was released Tuesday, was commissioned by the
labor federation as part of a campaign to woo young workers to
join unions.
The telephone survey of 752 young working adults, ages 18 to 34,
was conducted June 10-15 by Peter D. Hart Research Associates.
For comparison purposes, some questions were also asked of 401
workers ages 35 and older. The overall margin of error was plus
or minus 4 percentage points.
Among those ages 18 to 34, fewer than half - 45 percent - rated
the economy as excellent or good, compared with 58 percent of
those over age 35.
Although unemployment is at its lowest rate in nearly three
decades, 55 percent of young workers said the new jobs available
are mostly lower-paying.
More than half of young workers - 58 percent - said employers
are falling short when it comes to sharing profits with employees.
A similar percentage, 55 percent, said companies aren't doing
enough to provide family-friendly workplace policies.
And only about four out of 10 young workers said they are
covered by an employer-sponsored health plan or a retirement
plan their company contributes to, compared with about six out
of 10 older workers.
It's not that most young workers are born pessimists or expect to
advance without paying some dues, the poll found:
Among those 18 to 24, 62 percent said they believe that with
education and hard work a person can do well and get ahead.
However, that drops to 52 percent by the time workers reach
their early 30s.
Tom Lehman Lynn R. Williams Learning Center United Steelworkers of America 3315 W.21st St. Lorain, Ohio 44053
440-282-6015 phone