PPB December 2018

PPAI Exclusive Research | FEATURE Though diversity in the workplace is often synonymous with gender, race and generational differences among coworkers, a more recent tie-in has been to different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within a team. Poll results reveal the overwhelming majority of industry professionals (94 percent) have worked in an industry outside promotional products. Supplier and distributor companies are most likely to employ professionals with non-industry experience (95 percent) as opposed to 80 percent of business service companies. Higher education is also a hallmark amongmembers of theMillennial generation. The number of employed Americans between ages 25 and 29 possessing at least a bachelor’s degree has reached new heights according to the PewResearch Center, which stated: “Millennials are on track to be themost educated generation to date.” The Center’s analysis of the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is sponsored jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as the primary source of labor force data, for the country's population found that the share of college- educated young adults in today’s labor force is higher than ever before. And that’s not all—July poll results indicate promotional products professionals are more educated than the national average (Figure 3) . In fact, Generation X Born 1965-1980 Between 38-53 years old Baby Boomers Born 1946-1964 Between 54-72 years old Silent Generation Born Before 1945 73 years old or older Percentage Of Labor Force With A Bachelor’s Degree Source: Pew Research Center National Average [1] Promotional Products Indusrty [2] Figure 3. Percentage Of Labor Force, By Education Level Attained Sources: [1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2018 (n=141,217,000) [2] PPAI Research, July 2018 Poll Results (n=137) Bachelor’s degree and higher Some college or associate degree High school graduates, no college Less than a high school diploma 40 % 27 % 26 % 7 % 68 % 27 % 4 % 1 % | DECEMBER 2018 | 65