While the Obama administration continues to focus on illegal immigration, gay marriage and gun control, a new study has found that 60 percent of Millennials believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction.
Released Tuesday, the Global Millennial Survey, which examined Generation Y’s views, found that just 50 percent worldwide feel the same way.
For Millennials stateside, their outlook on the future of the country appears bleaker than that of their peers from around the world. More than half of young Americans — 56 percent — believe their country’s best days are behind it, compared to just 33 percent worldwide.
The survey, conducted by Telefónica and Financial Times, provides an extensive look at how Millennials from around the world view their futures.
“Our survey provides the first truly in-depth look at the Millennial generation that is both realistic about having to overcome a number of challenges related to the economy and career development, yet largely confident of their own ability to succeed,” César Alierta, chairman and chief executive officer of Telefónica, said in a statement.
Worldwide, 27 percent of 18- to 30-year-olds felt the economy was the most important issue facing their specific region, compared to 46 percent in the U.S.
As the economy remains stagnant and the Social Security fund continues to deplete, 49 percent of Millennials in the U.S. foresee a lifetime of working, with retirement a distance thought. Globally, only 39 percent of that demographic agree.
Telefónica’s findings come on the heels of a proclaimed “war on youth.” Still, America’s youth remain hopeful that despite economic challenges, entrepreneurial opportunities exist that allow them to make a difference in the world, the survey stated.
Telefónica’s findings represent “the largest and most comprehensive survey of Millennial adults aged 18-30 conducted to date,” a press release said. More than 12,000 Millennials from 27 countries including the U.S. participated, with questions ranging from their views on retirement to the impact they believe they will have on the world.
