Young Professionals Look for Fulfillment Outside the Office

A recent study conducted by The Conference Board, a market information company, deterermined that young Americans hate their jobs more than ever before. Less than 39% of workers under 25 report being satisfied with their current position. When the same study was conducted 20 years ago, 61% of all participants were satisfied with their employment situation.

Perhaps the reason so many young professionals are unhappy with their careers is because they are more concerned with being happy outside of the office walls. The 2001 study, "The Next Generation: Today's Professionals, Tomorrow's Leaders," directed by Paulette Gerkovich of Catalyst, a leading research and advisory organization, found that 79% of respondents said that it was extrememly important to enjoy life. Only 22% rated having a variety of responsiblities at work as extrememly important, and just 16% of respondents stated that it is extrememly important to become an influential leader.

And can you really blame us? Studies show the older we get, the more we regret the fun we misssed out on. In the words of former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas, "Nobody on his deathbed ever said, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'"