Benefits January 23, 2007

Young People Come to Work with Lofty Intentions

January 23, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Employers bringing college students into their workforce need to understand the young people are coming to them more idealistic and interested in making the world better than before.
Reported by

A news release from Boston-based Experience, an online job site aimed at college students and alumni, said its recent survey of students found 27% ranked making a difference in the world as being most important to them, while 15% ranked professional success in the top spot. Some 47% of college students agreed people can achieve professional success while promoting global changes, and 33% said the two go hand-in-hand

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.

Major public policy issues the young people were specifically most interested in, according to the release, included:

  • Human health – 23%,
  • Human rights – 22%,
  • Environmental and climate change – 19%,
  • Economic development and poverty – 17%,
  • Access to education – 17%,
  • International security and terrorism – 16%, and
  • Effects of technological development – 11%.

According to the survey, when asked what most dramatically influenced their choice of top issues of concern,30% said family and relatives, 22% said the media, and 20% said teachers/professors. Fifteen percent reported activists as the most dramatic influence, and 12% gave credit to their friends/classmates.

Finally, the respondents were asked who bears the primary responsibility for pursuing the global policy issues:

  • 49% said the government should be the most responsible for solving global issues,
  • 34% said individuals bear the most responsibility, and
  • 38% of college students said they are somewhat active in promoting global issues, but they would like to do more.

The survey was completed in November 2006. Students who opted-in to receive communications from Experience were invited to participate in the online poll, and more than 2,800 students responded. More information is at www.experience.com .

«