Millennials Ask Obama to Think of Young Adults as Inauguration Looms

Generation Opportunity: Millennials look to Washington, President Obama for results after four years of economic devastation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Barack Obama will soon take the oath of office for the second time at the 57th Presidential Inauguration. As Mr. Obama puts the final touches on his Inaugural Address and prepares to lay out a vision for the next four years, Generation Opportunity – the nation's leading organization advocating for 18-29 year olds – is reminding both the President and America's elected leaders that the concerns of young people are central to both the current and future health and prosperity of the nation.

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"Inauguration affords us a national opportunity both to reflect and to look ahead. As young people ponder the last four years, we remember a time of hardship and struggle, a time in which we were eager to contribute our skills, but have been denied access to the American Dream and have often had to sit on the sidelines," said Sean Kibby, Director of Strategic National Operations at Generation Opportunity. "President Reagan once said that 'Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it.' Young people still believe that today, just as we continue to be inspired by John F. Kennedy's refrain that 'The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.' We are eager and ready to build, knowing that we have what it takes. Young people are asking the President and our elected leaders to do what they have failed to do on urgent issues like youth unemployment – take action and achieve real results." 

Having suffered disproportionally over the past four years due to the historic scarcity of opportunities, 18-29 year olds overwhelmingly cite unemployment and the lack of jobs as their chief concerns. According to Generation Opportunity's Millennial Jobs Report, their effective unemployment rate was a stunning 16.3% in December.

Generation Opportunity Poll: Young Adults Frustrated with Washington

• Only 29% of 18-29 year olds say that the economic policies coming out of Washington are helping them.
• 76% of 18-29 year olds believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.
• 55% are not confident that America will still be a global leader in five years if the USA continues along the same path as the last few years.
• Only 36% of Millennials agree with the statement "generally speaking, things in the United States are heading in the right direction.

*Full methodology available upon request.

Generation Opportunity is a national, non-partisan youth advocacy organization focusing on Millennials ages 18-29.

Follow us on Twitter: @GenOpportunity

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

SOURCE Generation Opportunity