More Americans think that jobs, careers and employment opportunities after the pandemic will be harder to obtain for the next generation than they were following the 2008 Great Recession, according to a new Rutgers report.
The report, published by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, found that less than half — 46% of Americans surveyed at the end of 2020 — are optimistic that economic conditions will improve in 2021, while 30% think conditions will deteriorate. The rest expect no change whatsoever.
“The scars of the Great Recession on workers and families were apparent midway through Joe Biden’s first term as vice president in August 2010 and as he entered his second term in January 2013,” says report co-author Carl Van Horn, director of the Heldrich Center. “As President Biden begins his presidency, Americans are experiencing dire financial and emotional trauma. They worry these negative realities will linger for many years.”
