The Not Your Parents' American Dream graphic details the difference that exists between the goals of young adults today and the goals that their parents had years ago at the same age.
Completed using information compiled from MetLife's fifth survey on American ideals, the chart shows that younger generations are more concerned with achieving the American Dream than their elders were, but that this dream has changed.
Maintaining close ties with friends and family tops the list of important aspirations for the future and feeling a sense of personal fulfillment with one's life choices trumps financial success.
Fifty per cent of Generation Y respondents said that they feel as though they work harder than their parents and nearly half of respondents said that they would either go back to school, take a job for which they were overqualified, relocate or attain additional job training to achieve their career goals.
Future Life Aspirations Charts
The Not Your Parents' American Dream Graphic Documents Goals
Trend Themes
1. Revised American Dream - Opportunity to redefine the American Dream to align with the changing aspirations of younger generations.
2. Work-life Balance - Rise of the value placed on maintaining close ties with friends and family while pursuing personal fulfillment.
3. Career Advancement Strategies - Increasing willingness to undertake additional education, job training, or relocation to achieve professional goals.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Opportunity for education institutions to adapt their offerings to meet the changing career goals and aspirations of young adults.
2. Personal Development - Rise in demand for products and services that help individuals achieve personal fulfillment and prioritize work-life balance.
3. Job Training and Relocation Services - Growing market for job training programs and relocation services to support career advancement strategies of Generation Y.