What We Hear From Young Americans — and What They Want to Hear From Us
We surveyed 10,000 adults, including 8,000 under the age of 45, to better understand their aspirations, including how they feel about the American Dream and their outlook for the future.
The results paint a picture of a generation navigating rising costs, shifting career expectations, and concerns about economic fairness — while still holding onto optimism. From housing and work-life balance to career fulfillment and views on corporate responsibility, the findings highlight the priorities, challenges, and hopes of young Americans today.
Our Survey
We surveyed 10,000 Americans, including 8,000 under 45
The Bottom Line Upfront
Americans today are still dreamers. They want to live a wealthy life, and they are eager to work hard to get there. But the harder they work, the more out of reach the Dream feels.
Whether it’s affording the basics, feeling like they have a shot at upward mobility, or believing they can ultimately become rich, Americans feel their goals are harder to reach today than they were for their parents. Many believe the system is rigged against them by greedy billionaires who refuse to pay their fair share.
It all boils down to this: young Americans want leaders who will focus on the three pillars of the modern American Dream: affordability, mobility, and wealth.
The Three Pillars
Affordability
What Young
Americans
are Saying
80%
I need more than one source of income to survive
I want to buy a house but it seems impossible
66%
I'll never have enough money to live comfortably
75%
Across party lines: billionaires and corporations should pay more in taxes
80%
What Young Americans Want to Hear
RECOMMENDATION
Affordability is the foundation of the Dream — and young Americans don’t think it’s there anymore. They feel home ownership is a fantasy, financial security is out of reach, and billionaires are gaming the system. Any leader who doesn’t start by acknowledging today’s affordability crisis will lose them immediately. But affordability must be just the beginning — they aspire to much more.
Mobility
What Young Americans
are Saying
of young Americans aspire to be more than “middle-class,”
78%
say it is impossible to reach
68%
say the middle class doesn’t exist
62%
of young Americans say that their generation will be worse off than their parents.
75%
What Young Americans Want to Hear
RECOMMENDATION
They want to work hard and climb the ladder — but feel the ladder is being pulled away. They see billionaires and corporations putting greed above fairness, and they want leaders to unrig the system. They reject “middle class” as the goal; it feels outdated or hollowed out. They want leaders who validate their aspiration for more than a “middle class” life, while also holding billionaires accountable.
Wealth
What Young Americans
are Saying
of young Americans say that it is “extremely important” for them to be “rich.”
56%
63%
of adults under 45, say having a good work/life balance is very important
53%
of young adults, say having a fulfilling career is very important
What Young Americans Want to Hear
RECOMMENDATION
They don’t just want to get by — they want to be rich. But wealth isn’t only about money; it’s about freedom: family, travel, passion, security, and joy. They want fulfilling careers and balanced lives. They want leaders who embrace this aspiration without shaming them for it, while still holding billionaires accountable for going overboard with their greed. They want leaders who openly celebrate the pursuit of a wealthy life and fight to make it achievable for every American who works hard and plays by the rules.