As it turns out, Metro Vancouver Millennials don’t appear to be as entitled as many believe they are.
A recent Insights West poll surveyed how local Millennials – those aged 18 to 35 – feel about work and salaries, and results show they are significantly more satisfied than their Generation X (aged 35 to 51) counterparts.
“Much has been written about the purported entitlement of Millennials,” said Steve Mossop, president at Insights West, in a release.
“However, the survey shows that the views of Millennials on issues such as pay raises are very similar to the feelings of Generation X, Baby Boomers and Traditionalists.”
The survey of 2,000 people found 25 per cent of Millennials say they are “delighted” with their current employer, compared to 19 per cent of the Generation X population, and similar to Baby Boomers and Traditionalists (26 per cent).
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The older generations are also more likely to express displeasure with their jobs. Twenty-four per cent of Millennials say they are “not happy” with their employer, a feeling more prevalent among Generation X and Baby Boomers (27 per cent).
Furthermore, Insights West says the common belief that Millennials are frustrated with their future career opportunities is simply not true. Over half, 57 per cent, say there are “satisfied” with their possibilities for advancement, including 19 per cent who say they are “very satisfied.”
For the older generation, that number is only a tiny nine per cent.
And the belief that Millennials feel they’re entitled to lots of vacation time and plum benefits? Results show they’re no more concerned than Generation X and Baby Boomers.
But not all myths about Millennials appear to be false. For instance, they are more likely to “strongly agree” that they work harder than those around them and deserve to be promoted faster than they are.
The survey also confirms the resentment toward Millennials felt by Baby Boomers and Generation X: 66 per cent and 77 per cent respectively feel that young people don’t work as hard as they did when they were that age.
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Responses from Global News readers, young and old, showed just how divisive the attitudes toward Millennials are.
“My husband works an average of 86 hours per week. Yes, per week. But of course he is lazy because he was born in 1981, right?” said Jennifer Qureshi.
Sharren Neville agreed: “Many, many millennials work extremely hard, pay their bills, pay their taxes, and are involved with their communities. I’ve put myself through university without the aid of student loans and I worked full time the whole way through.”
“I’d love to see what the baby boomers would have done if they had to live with the prices we have,” said another Millennial, Christopher Verge.
But one Baby Boomer maintains the stereotype: “They feel entitled to be served. Being the oldest of eight and 16 grandchildren, they are lazy,” wrote Marie Ann Purdy.
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