Published August 1965 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
From the Office of United States Senator Robert C. Byrd Room 342, Old Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Volume V – Number 33 August 13, 1965 Byrd's Eye View A Public Service Column by Senator Robert C. Byrd AMERICA' YOUNGSTERS VIEW CAREERS By the end of the 1960's 15 times as many young people will be entering the Labor force as in the 1950's, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. Because America's businessmen need to understand the thinking of youth in estimating its economic impact, a study was made by a public opinion research organization of a cross-section of high school graduates, as to their career plans and expectations. The use of 1964 high school graduates is basic interview units was determined because U.S. corporations generally seek it as a minimum requirement for an employee with a high school diploma. This classification represented (as of 1965 figures compiled by the department of Labor among those aged 16 to 21) 49.9 percent of America's white youths and 34.3 percent of Negro youths who completed high school. Findings of the study revealed a deeper maturity of thought than the public might generally have anticipated. In explanation, one dominant characteristic of today's high school graduate was revealed as a drive for a good education, because (as the youngsters generally expressed it), Education beyond high school has become a necessity. They point out that the jobs for the less educated, as held by many of their parents’ generation upon their entrance into the labor market, are becoming non-existent. Surprisingly, fully half of all the high school students interrogated stated they expect to graduate from college and also secure an advanced degree. Yet, statistics reveal that, in the past, only about half of the high school graduates who actually have gone on to college stayed to receive a first degree. Importantly, this expectation of more advanced education is not unrealistic in light of the massive federal programs to increase higher education opportunities. And 1964's realistic high school seniors are under no illusion that success is a matter of luck. The index study revealed 90 percent of the graduates states that acceptance of responsibility was the best way to get ahead in a job today. Less than 2 percent stated a belief that blind luck was the key. Additionally, the index substantiated something that American companies have learned from experience – that they must use different approaches in recruiting manpower at the college level that at the high school level, for the college-bound students have stressed job values beyond the material benefits in stating their career objectives. By contrast, those ending their education at high school gave greater attention to pay, advancement, security, fringe benefits, and working hours. The college bound also rated advancement high, but, in addition gave more stress to job challenges, independence, and opportunities to be creative. A large proportion of the young college-bound Americans stated a preference for a school or college as a first choice of a place to work, with careers with corporations, or “big business”, following as a second general choice. The third high grouping was comprised of those interested in work at the Federal or State governmental levels. Optimistically, teenagers revealed high confidence that they will be able to find the jobs they want, and the higher the students’ academic standing, the greater was the confidence that they will be able to find the job they want in launching their future career. -30-