Survey: Millennials around the world worry most about economic inequality

Gregg Zoroya

USA TODAY Opinion

Millennials around the world worry most about social and economic equality, remain skeptical of government and the media, and count Tesla CEO Elon Musk as one their heroes, according to a World Economic Forum survey released Sunday.

Actor's stage a tug-of-war between the rich and the poor to depict the world's struggle against economic inequality at a U.N. summit in September. Millennials identified economic inequality as their top global concern in a survey released Sunday by the World Economic Forum.

More than 1,000 young people, ages 20 to 30, from 125 countries and who are all active in the forum's Global Shapers Community, were canvassed for the survey. The average age was 28. The results were released at the beginning of a three-day World Economic Forum conference in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The survey showed that 65% of the Millennials said one of their top three goals in selecting a job was to make a difference in society, their city or country. They also look for an opportunity to learn, followed by career advancement. More than nine out of 10 said they would be willing to relocate to advance their career.

The annual survey "reveals that Millennials care about society in their reflections and also in their own career and economic choices," said Yemi Babington-Ashaye, head of the Global Shapers Community.

Asked about the top three issues facing the world today, 56% named social and economic inequality, 42% included climate change and environmental preservation, and 33% identified education. Half said their national government was neither fair nor honest. And 46% had the same view about the media, while 35% said they distrusted religious leaders and armed forces, the survey showed.

The most admired figure among the Millennials was the late Nelson Mandela, followed by Pope Francis. Musk, 44, the billionaire inventor, engineer and creator of SpaceX, was third, followed by Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Gates and President Obama.

Other key findings from the survey:

Nearly half, or 48%, said their laptop was their primary means of navigating the Internet, followed closely by their smartphone. Tablets were a distant third with just 6%.
The United States was the top location to work, followed by England and Germany.
These Millennials said the top emerging markets were the United Arab Emirates, China and Brazil.

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