One-Third of Young Workers Struggling to Pay the Bills

One-third of workers aged 18 to 35 live at home with their parents and are significantly less likely to have health care or economic security than their counterparts a decade ago, according to a national survey. Labor leaders say the report reinforces the urgency of reaching out to young workers.

Only 31 percent of young workers said they earn enough to cover their bills and put some money aside. Ten years ago, more than half said they earned enough. Now 24 percent say they can't even cover their monthly bills.

Nearly a third of the workers said they have no health insurance, up from 24 percent when the survey was last done in 1999. The vast majority of these, 79 percent, said it is because they can't afford health insurance or because it is not offered by their employers.

The survey, conducted in late July by Hart Research for the AFL-CIO and affiliate Working America, also found that four out of 10 young workers have no sick days and one-third have no paid vacation. Click here for full survey results.