Bridgeport, CT – A new survey of 1,004 teens conducted for Junior Achievement by the research company ENGINE Insights shows that a majority (61%) believes that people in our society are paid less based on race, ethnicity, or gender. More than two-thirds (69%) believe people have a harder time getting financial support to start a business based on race, ethnicity, or gender. The survey of 1,004 13- to 17-year-olds was conducted by ENGINE Insights from November 17 to 22, 2020.
Nearly half of survey respondents (45%) felt that “education” is the top way to address a lack of economic opportunity, followed by “changing the laws” (35%), “business reforms” (30%), and “reparations” (23%). “Addressing economic disparity is top-of-mind for today’s young people,” said Bernadine Venditto. “As we see in these survey results, one way to help reduce barriers to economic opportunity is through education. We at Junior Achievement are committed to doing this through innovative programs and experiences.”
In response to these concerns, Junior Achievement and Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow., CNBC’s financial wellness and education initiative in partnership with Acorns, hosted a “Summit for a More Equitable and Just Tomorrow” on December 8. A recording of the summit can be viewed at CNBC.com/JASummit.
Hosted by CNBC Senior Personal Finance Correspondent Sharon Epperson, this unique interactive event gave teens across America direct access to some of the country’s most knowledgeable experts on economic empowerment, especially as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The panelists offered simple, straightforward strategies to help empower participants to work toward a more equitable and just tomorrow.
Panelists included:
- Sahil Bloom, Vice President, Altamont Capital Partners
- Rianka Dorsainvil, Co-Founder & CEO, 2050 Wealth Partners
- Yanely Espinal, Director of Educational Outreach, Next Gen Personal Finance
- Akbar Gbajabiamila, Host, American Ninja Warrior and American Ninja Warrior Junior and member, CNBC Financial Wellness Advisory Council
- Special Guest Marc Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League
Methodology
This Youth CARAVAN survey was conducted by ENGINE INSIGHTS among a sample of 1,004 13-17 year olds. This survey was live on November 17-22, 2020.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have volunteered to participate in online surveys and polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to multiple sources of error, including, but not limited to sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. It is nationally representative with set quotas based on census data. The 1,004 completes are all who qualified and completed based on the demographic quota requirements. The MoE is +/- 3.1%.
About Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Locally, Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County provides inspiring economic empowerment programs to students across 20 towns in Greater Fairfield County in partnership with volunteers, educators, and corporate supporters.