Millennials Get None of the Era’s Dividends!

[shanhaigamefi]

Hey, Millennials — the generation that grew up with the internet and smartphones — do you ever feel like you’re the forgotten children of history? We were once told to work hard, study diligently, and the world would be ours. But reality seems to have a different script for us. From financial crises to high inflation, Millennials have experienced a series of “missing era dividends,” as if the world owes us a check that never gets cashed.

The Baptism of the Financial Crisis
The 2008 financial crisis was a major setback. Just as we were gearing up to make our mark, the economic wave crashed over us. The job market turned into a post-apocalyptic scene, with unemployment rates soaring and newly minted graduates taking any job they could find. Picture someone with a master’s degree working at a coffee shop — sounds inspiring, right? Actually, we’d prefer stable career paths over “starting from the bottom” motivational stories.

The Cutthroat Job Market
The job market is like a giant gladiatorial arena, where a high degree is the bare minimum. Our generation not only competes with peers but also with overqualified “gods” in the job market. Internships, gig work, and temp jobs have become the norm. Job stability? What’s that? Sometimes, it feels like we’re starring in a workplace version of “The Hunger Games.”

The Pandemic “Assist”
Remember the COVID-19 pandemic? That really added insult to injury. Remote work sounded like a dream at first, but we ended up as 24/7 on-call “work machines.” Those once-clear career plans were turned upside down. Mental health? In this “work frenzy,” anxiety and stress became our new normal. Plans and goals seemed to vanish overnight.

The Squeeze of High Inflation and Rising Interest Rates
Next, welcome to the era of high inflation and rising interest rates. House prices skyrocketed, leaving us staring at our dream homes from afar. The constant rise in student loans and living costs made it hard to breathe. Financial security became the top priority, and major life decisions? They had to wait. More and more Millennials are delaying buying homes and starting families, simply because their wallets can’t keep up.

Work hard to make money, but the wallet stays empty
In this environment, financial security became paramount. According to a global survey by payroll services company ADP, only 25% of Millennials (ages 24–34) prioritize enjoyment in their daily work when choosing a job, compared to 45% of Baby Boomers aged 55 and over. Instead, 56% of Millennials prioritize salary, a higher percentage than the 44% of younger employees aged 18–24. Millennials also value career development opportunities more than other age groups. We’ve turned into realists because dreams don’t pay the bills.

Despite working hard, many Millennials feel they’re not getting the returns they deserve. Job satisfaction surveys reveal that many Millennials are dissatisfied with their salaries, work environment, and career development opportunities. Stagnant wage growth and career bottlenecks make it difficult to find a sense of achievement and satisfaction at work. This not only affects personal career happiness but also has a negative impact on the economic vitality of society as a whole.

[Poker Player]

I don't quite see what "dividends" have to do with it. I understand that it is said in a metaphorical sense, within the historical account you make but for comparison maybe you would like more to have enjoyed the dividends had you been born another time, as it seems to be understood, but don't compare yourself only with the boomers, man. Try comparing yourself to those who had to go to WWI or WWII and enjoyed the "dividends" of dying in it or coming out alive after seeing atrocities and with post traumatic stress the rest of their lives.

[bitmover]

Hey, Millennials — the generation that grew up with the internet and smartphones — do you ever feel like you’re the forgotten children of history? We were once told to work hard, study diligently, and the world would be ours. But reality seems to have a different script for us. From financial crises to high inflation, Millennials have experienced a series of “missing era dividends,” as if the world owes us a check that never gets cashed.

I dont agree with that. Especially because I am a millennial.

I think millennials were very luck.

The 2008 economy crisis was basically a buying opportunity. SP500 sky rocket since millennials started to make money:
Since 2009, when most millennials were beginning their carrers, sp500 increased 500%, an amazing opportunity.



Do you want more dividends than that?

Also, US market is still booming, there are basically jobs for everyone

[Juse14]

As inflation soars higher and interest rates creep up, the dream of owning a home and achieving financial stability slides further out of reach. A lot of people hold off on big life choices like getting a house or having kids until they're more stable financially. When thrust into these situations, one's drive for achieving top-tier financial security takes center stage and oftentimes supersedes finding any enjoyment out of our day-to-day work.

Working hard but feeling like you're not reaping the rewards? Stuck with stagnant wages, no career advancement opportunities, and an unfulfilling work environment? It's what leaves many of us dissatisfied, not just in terms of our own personal happiness but also as a drag on overall economic vitality. Given all that, we have to continue adapting finding ways to bring stability and fulfillment into our lives.

[odolvlobo]

It's funny listening to people complaining about how they are suffering from inflation and high interest rates as if they have never happened before. Today's rates are nothing compared to rates in the 70's and 80's. And let's not forget that inflation and interest rates have been unusually low for the previous 20 years.

[WillyAp]

It's funny listening to people complaining about how they are suffering from inflation and high interest rates as if they have never happened before. Today's rates are nothing compared to rates in the 70's and 80's. And let's not forget that inflation and interest rates have been unusually low for the previous 20 years.

1st world people of the millennium gen, use a car, holidays, eat out on the street and wonder why they don't have more than the gen before. 

[JeffBrad12]

the jobs and education is more accessible than ever, so of course there will be competition since other people also want to get rich as well and as a result, the difficulty in the competition increase while the pay and wages stays the same.

this however simply means that the world has changed and some people aren't used to it, right now if you want to be rich, you need to do different, taking the same career path as your parent won't guarantee a thing since the condition is different compared to back then, and competition increased but what I found to be interesting is that, the entertainment industry and any other creative industry that requires personal branding e.g influencer yield better income than the conventional 9-5 jobs with prerequisites that you're good enough and could actually build personal branding. the millenials that ventured into this category often do so well.

[sunsilk]

I think millennials were very luck.

I agree.

Millennials are in the middle of the old and traditional ways as well as the futuristic approach together with the service economy and gigs. So, being in the midst of the tech revolution, it's actually a blessing.

You get to choose what you are up to and how you'll be able to take advantage of the innovation of technology.

Despite working hard, many Millennials feel they’re not getting the returns they deserve. Job satisfaction surveys reveal that many Millennials are dissatisfied with their salaries, work environment, and career development opportunities.

Not all I guess.

But the mere problem is about the competition in the job market and individuals financial literacy could be a factor of it.

[Qiubell5]

Hey, Millennials — the generation that grew up with the internet and smartphones — do you ever feel like you’re the forgotten children of history? We were once told to work hard, study diligently, and the world would be ours. But reality seems to have a different script for us. From financial crises to high inflation, Millennials have experienced a series of “missing era dividends,” as if the world owes us a check that never gets cashed.

indeed the millennial generation is like that now, because they follow the increasingly advanced trends of the times and technological products will follow their lifestyle, because behavioral shifts also change along with technology, it is difficult to distinguish between the present and the past, due to various reasons, and that is the cause of the shift to the financial crisis and high inflation, it seems difficult to avoid this factor, and that could be a sign of the difficult economy that is currently being experienced with inflation becoming a pressure from the unstable supply and demand side, I think it is difficult to get what we want, and make the challenge even more difficult.

[dansus021]

Based on this picture I was born in gen Z but I know the feel of the millennial era since my generation is at the first page of gen Z.



To be honest being a sandwich generation already though for some of us if you know what I mean and if you give another perspective early gen Z should know anything from technology transition to economy disrupt '98 and 2008 which is crazy

don't forget the covid era any anything my generation bombarded with ton of problem hahahha but I hope you guys still alive

[wxa7115]

Hey, Millennials — the generation that grew up with the internet and smartphones — do you ever feel like you’re the forgotten children of history? We were once told to work hard, study diligently, and the world would be ours. But reality seems to have a different script for us. From financial crises to high inflation, Millennials have experienced a series of “missing era dividends,” as if the world owes us a check that never gets cashed.

edited

Despite working hard, many Millennials feel they’re not getting the returns they deserve. Job satisfaction surveys reveal that many Millennials are dissatisfied with their salaries, work environment, and career development opportunities. Stagnant wage growth and career bottlenecks make it difficult to find a sense of achievement and satisfaction at work. This not only affects personal career happiness but also has a negative impact on the economic vitality of society as a whole.

I can understand why millennials may be disappointed by what is going on, but this is nothing compared to what the greatest generation had to go through, which includes suffering world war one, the great depression and fighting world war two.

So just because things have not been great for this generation, it does not mean that they cannot turn things around later on their lives, it is just that this will require they have their eyes open for any opportunity that presents itself and they take advantage of it.

[davis196]

Great article. Where did you copy that text from? 
I hate the "poor me" mentality. What about the generation that survived the Great Depression and World War II? Are they luckier than the millennials or no? The Great Depression was way worse in comparison to the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
The millennials didn't have to participate in a World War and didn't have to starve during a major economic downturn.
What about the generation, that survived the "Spanish influenza" pandemic after World War I? Wasn't this pandemic way deadlier than COVID-19?
I agree that the labor market sucks, but I don't know what was the labor market 50 years ago. Maybe the people back then had to work way harder for lower salaries and less social benefits.
Every generation has to go thru hard times...

[Yatsan]

Despite working hard, many Millennials feel they’re not getting the returns they deserve. Job satisfaction surveys reveal that many Millennials are dissatisfied with their salaries, work environment, and career development opportunities. Stagnant wage growth and career bottlenecks make it difficult to find a sense of achievement and satisfaction at work. This not only affects personal career happiness but also has a negative impact on the economic vitality of society as a whole.

For my own observation as also a 1994 baby is it remains clear that many Millennials' concerns about the state of their work are surely legitimate. Entering a profession that has typically stiff pay and limited opportunities for advancement may easily create frustration and poor performance. It also means that next generation ofcourse as domino effect, had main economic shocks to bear, including the later years financial crisis. It once stated on my training on labor related seminar (forget their theme) that this could have important economic evolvement if most workers feel underpaid or trapped in their jobs because its all human nature. So in short, low job satisfaction leads to low productivity and motivation that may affect the general economic performance. Further, in case millennials cannot advance careers or atleast make a living in our current year, this affects the assessment of one's exercising power and ability for financial service. So if I may add, these matters noted strongly required both organizational change and a drive from the individual.   

[tottong]

Despite working hard, many Millennials feel they’re not getting the returns they deserve. Job satisfaction surveys reveal that many Millennials are dissatisfied with their salaries, work environment, and career development opportunities. Stagnant wage growth and career bottlenecks make it difficult to find a sense of achievement and satisfaction at work. This not only affects personal career happiness but also has a negative impact on the economic vitality of society as a whole.

In the past, people were required to work according to the rules in the workplace and now we have the freedom to work according to our wishes in the modern era like today.
What makes people dissatisfied with work because they have to follow the rules, small salaries and careers that are very difficult to develop so that we feel bored because we are not free to express ourselves.
The Millennial generation is getting smarter in utilizing technology and opportunities to make money and we can make our own work rules with the skills and interests we have.

We are lucky to be in the millennial era like today because there are many conveniences that we can do.
There is no success without fighting for it and it depends on each individual because even though there are many opportunities without fighting for it is useless.

[Darker45]

Millennials, you lazy motherf***ers, stop complaining and work your ass off! Your forefathers were already productive when they were still 4. They were already contributing to the economy even before they started going to school. They were robbed of their childhood because they were busy making a good future for you. And here you are, complete grown-ups, slouching in your soft sofa, playing childish games, waiting for your meal deliveries, and complaining against an unfair world and a hard life in between!

[Die_empty]

We are lucky to be in the millennial era like today because there are many conveniences that we can do.
There is no success without fighting for it and it depends on each individual because even though there are many opportunities without fighting for it is useless.

In some countries, their economy has gone from bad to worse, which means the baby boomers and not the millennials or Gen Z should count themselves lucky. My father told me of a time when immediately you graduated from school, there was a job waiting for you to grab. There was less population and less competition in the job market.

When a country is experiencing a population explosion without economic development, citizens begin to suffer. In my country, our fathers will always talk about how lucky they are. They pity us because we have to engage in more than one job to survive; meanwhile, they had a good life doing one job. Life in developing nations like mine keeps getting harder, and sometimes I wonder what is the hope of our children. But like you said, we don't have to give up; we will keep fighting until we build a better future for the next generation

[shinratensei_]

Great article. Where did you copy that text from? 
I hate the "poor me" mentality. What about the generation that survived the Great Depression and World War II? Are they luckier than the millennials or no? The Great Depression was way worse in comparison to the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Every generation has their share of difficulties and the victim mentality is really getting out of hand in my opinion, too much blaming on other people so that we can feel better in truth if we want to find opportunity we can really find it if we worked hard enough, those rich Gen Z exists and they get there for a reason and most of them aren't just sitting around and hoping luck befall them and become rich overnight.

pretty much bad take from OP that I think we need to get good if we really sought after generational wealth, try to solve real problem so that money will follow us.

[Lucius]

Great article. Where did you copy that text from? 
~snip~

It doesn't matter anymore, because the OP got a permanent ban for all other plagiarism and use of AI. It's hard for me to understand why people even comment on things like this instead of using the "report to moderator" button

[Egg Rolls]

Reality seems to have given our generation a blank check

[STT]

Everyone had it tough, you got to have a degree is the point where I stop reading this and feeling sorry for your great plight.   You have a degree for life can travel anywhere with that qualification, this is a very privileged position to start off from.

The way its laid out I agree, that sequence of upset really does represent volatility but there has been growth in that period also, as well as the obvious set backs and mistakes.

In the 1980's interest rates were 15% in a few countries including the USA, I only state this for a very obvious example things are not always easy past or present.   The great advantage now I would state as impossible to deny is that the modern generations are richer on average then those who struggled in mining or the more basic 'old' industries.
 The countries overall are richer but good wages may be elusive I agree it may have not gotten any fairer.

Technology to me represents the giant difference across generations.  This is a massive powerhouse available to those can make the best of it, people and companies.
  Its not a given but we cannot deny the great standing wealth and utility available to those with the skill to harness it.

The 2008 economy crisis was basically a buying opportunity.

The reality on the ground could be quite different but yes, this is quite true over decades.   The 90's had a boom bust in technology, it laid low for ten years but the growth since then has been astronomical.  Whether you can capture and be part of that growth is another matter.