Experiencing 11.6 Percent Unemployment, Young Women Overwhelmingly Favor Lower Taxes and Less Government Spending to Help Job Creation

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity, the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on the important economic issues facing the nation, released new polling data today on young women (18-29) as the 2012 presidential election nears. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has amassed a following of over four million on Facebook and is actively organizing Millennials across America through grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts.

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"Young women don't want someone who just talks a good game – they want someone who gets the job done. They are sick of empty promises, flashy gimmicks, and meaningless endorsements. Young women are being devastated by this economy and denied opportunities for independence so that they can build a future for themselves. Through no fault of their own, their lives have been placed on hold. They are paying for this administration's failures personally through the lack of job opportunities. With unemployment for young women far above the already high national unemployment rate, they know the status quo is unacceptable, and they know that we can do better," said Amber S. Roseboom, Executive Vice President of Generation Opportunity and a former Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Office of Personnel Management.

"The message to Washington and to candidates from young women is clear – get out of the way – lower taxes and lower federal spending to get this economy moving again. To stubbornly press forward with an agenda that increases taxes and federal spending at the expense of jobs and opportunity is unfair and callous. For those who would arrogantly suggest that women either don't care about a candidate's record in office or will simply vote on a narrow band of issues, they had better wake up – women are paying attention, and they plan to vote this November."

Earlier this month, the United States Department of Labor announced that the national unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in September.

Generation Opportunity announced that the non-seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year old women specifically for September 2012 is 11.6 percent.

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,003 adults ages 18-29 between July 27 and July 31, 2012.

Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old nationwide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted.

The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 3.1 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained. Margins of error for subgroups are higher. Women comprised 49% of the total sample for this study.

YOUNG WOMEN – ON GROWING JOBS, THE ECONOMY, AND AMERICAN PRIORITIES

• 77% would decrease federal spending if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
• 68% of young women agree with the statement "if taxes on business profits were reduced, companies would be more likely to hire." Only 25% disagree.
• 61% agree with the statement "the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference." Only 26% disagree.
• 69% of 18-29 year old women agree with the statement "if taxes were lowered, the U.S. economy would grow faster." Only 21% disagree.
• 66% prefer reducing federal spending over raising taxes on individuals to balance the federal budget.
• 51% of Millennial women would decrease taxes on individuals if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.

YOUNG WOMEN – ON ELECTED LEADERS, POLICIES IN WASHINGTON, AND THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

• 78% of young women plan to vote in the election for President this year.
• Only 37% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.

YOUNG WOMEN – SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DECISIONS IMPACTED BY THE POOR ECONOMY

• 90% of 18-29 year old women changed some aspect of their day-to-day lives because of the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
  • 65% - reduced entertainment budget;
  • 56% - reduced grocery/food budget;
  • 48% - cut back on gifts for friends and family;
  • 43% - skipped a vacation;
  • 40% - driven less/relied more on public transit;
  • 39% - taken active steps to reduce home energy costs;
  • 32% - tried to find an additional job;
  • 27% - changed living situation (moved in with family, taken extra roommates, downgraded apartment or home);
  • 27% - sold personal items or property (cars, electronic appliances, or other possessions);
  • 18% - skipped a wedding, family reunion, or other significant social event;
  • 2% - other, specified;
  • 8% - none of the above (accepted only this response);
  • 2% - do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
• 84% of Millennial women have delayed or might not do at least one major life event due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
  • 40% - buy my own place;
  • 35% - go back to school/getting more education or training;
  • 31% - pay off student loans or other debt;
  • 29% - change jobs/cities;
  • 28% - start a family;
  • 25% - save for retirement;
  • 22% - get married;
  • 13% - none of the above (accepted only this response);
  • 3% - do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
• 62% believe the availability of more quality, full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.
• 75% believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization's social media platforms – "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," "Lower Taxes by GO," "Keep Texas Awesome," "Jersey Proud," and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook – have amassed a total fan base of more than 4 million. The pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here,  "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here, "Lower Taxes by GO" on Facebook here, "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here, "Jersey Proud" on Facebook here, and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generacion Oportunidad – click here.

Follow us on Twitter @GenOpportunity.

CONTACT:
Matthew Faraci – 202-997-1636 | EMAIL
David Pasch – 202-230-7947 | EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity