"Millenials" In No Hurry To Get A Job

UVM Grads Head For Home

Burlington, Vermont - May 21, 2006

With diplomas in hand Sunday, nearly two thousand UVM graduates were ready to take on the real world. But according to a recent survey, nearly half of all graduates will be heading home first.

They're called "millenials," students who were born between 1980 and 2000. They're seen as being well-educated, open-minded and in no rush to get a job. Instead they're waiting for jobs that will be emotionally and financially fulfilling. "A lot of kids aren't willing to settle for nothing - for peanuts," said new grad, Ken Jenson.

"All of my friends are taking their time finding jobs," said Laura Viani. "They don't feel the same rush that our parents' generation felt. You can see the way parents talk to their kids - you gotta get a job, you gotta get an apartment right after graduation. I don't think people in my generation feel that way."

Viani says she does not feel pressured to start working, but she's going to stay busy for a while, volunteering at Shelburne Farms. "Come December, I'm searching again. I plan on going to my mom's house, but she doesn't know that yet."

UVM's career services says there are many reasons why students may move back in with mom and dad. And some parents say they're more than happy to welcome back their college graduate.

"Hopefully it won't be for a long period of time," said Bob Murch, the father of home bound grad. "But he's certainly welcome to come back and we're looking forward to having him, and he's welcome as long as he wants to stay there."

Dr. Bruce Weber has a daughter coming home. "I think it's great. They're living longer lives and robably have healthier lifestyles and I think it will be great. I think it will give them many more opportunities as life goes on," he said.

The time at home also gives grads a chance to start saving.

"My loan payments are starting to come in and I need to save for those. I went abroad and I still have debt from that, so I just need to save really," said Erin Kilraim.

Kilraim has a job in a law firm and plans on going to law school. But she says a lot of her friends are moving home because they cannot find jobs in their fields.

The latest research by UVM on the Class of 2004 shows that 19 percent of students were in graduate school within the year of graduating. Eighty-eight percent were employed in full or part-time jobs. And more than 86 percent said they were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their current positions.

Jessica Abo - Channel 3 News