Falling Behind:

1
Falling Behind
The Economic Challenges Confronting a New
Generation
Tamara Draut, Vice President of Policy and
Programs, Demos Author, Strapped Why Americas
20- and 30-Somethings Cant Get Ahead
demos.org strappedthebook.com
2
43,416

• Typical earnings for all men age 25-34 in 1975

35,100

• Typical earnings for all men age 25-34 in 2005

3
29,184
30,300

• Typical earnings for all women age
• 25-34 in 2005

• Typical earnings for all women age
• 25-34 in 1975

4
Median Earnings of Young Workers (25-34 yrs old)
with High School Diploma 1975-2005 (2004 dollars)
Source US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, Current Population Survey, March
Supplement, 1975-2005.
5
Median Earnings of Young Workers (25-34 yrs old)
with Some College1975-2005 (2004 dollars)
Source US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, Current Population Survey, March
Supplement, 1975-2005.
6
Median Earnings of Young Workers (25-34 yrs
old) with Bachelors Degree or Higher1975-2005
(2004 dollars)
Source US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, Current Population Survey, March
Supplement, 1975-2005.
7
Declining Job Quality

• Health Insurance
• Recent High School Grads
• 1979 63
• 2006 32
• Recent College Grads
• 1979 77
• 2006 64

The State of Working America 2008/2009
8
18 Million

• Number of Uninsured Young People
• (18-34 yrs old)

9
Declining Job Quality

• Pension Coverage
• Recent High School Grads
• 1979 36
• 2006 18
• Recent College Grads
• 1979 51
• 2006 46

The State of Working America 2008/2009
10
Generation Debt

• Two-thirds of 18-34 year olds have credit card
  debt
• Average debt among low- to middle-income
  households is just over 8,000
• Top reasons for debt car repairs, job loss and
  home repairs
• 45 reported using credit cards in the last year
  to pay for basic living expenses such as rent,
  mortgage payments, groceries and utilities

11
For more information, visit demos.org or
strappedthebook.com