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20 jobs that baby boomers loved in 1990 - but that millennials today just don't want
20 jobs that baby boomers loved in 1990 - but that millennials today just don't want
Andy KierszAug 7, 2019, 20:10 IST
Turtle Mania hit Teesside today, at the opening of the new Toys R Us at Teesside Shopping Park, Sandown Way, Stockton on Tees. 6th October 1990. Pictured, Emma Michelle Todd after opening the store.Getty Images
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The US economy has changed a lot in the last several decades.
Using Census data, we found 20 industries that used to have a lot of young adults in their workforces that now are dominated by older workers.
Several manufacturing and wholesale industries made the list.
Blockbuster, pogs, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren't the only things that had their time in the sun in the early '90s - jobs that were popular with young people back then are no longer drawing millennials.
We recently looked at what industries are currently dominated by millennials. To get a sense of how the US economy has changed since baby boomers and Gen Xers were young adults, we looked for once-popular jobs that have very few millennials employed today.
The Pew Research Center provided definitions for generations, meaning that in 1990, plenty of baby boomers and Gen Xers were the same age older millennials were in 2017. The industries we're looking at were popular with those young adults in 1990, but had a much smaller share of similarly aged millennials in 2017.
As with broader trends in the economy as globalization and automation reshape the way Americans work, many of the industries that have seen a big drop in young-adult employment are in the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors.
For each industry, we also included the average income among 21- to 36-year-olds working in that industry in 1990 and in 2017, adjusted for inflation.
20. Machinery, equipment, and supplies (wholesale): In 1990, 47% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 28% in 2017 (a 19-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $53,662
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $50,235
19. Manufacturing of leather products (except footwear): In 1990, 43% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 24% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $30,041
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $31,976
18. Manufacturing of bicycles and miscellaneous transportation: In 1990, 49% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 29% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $35,927
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $41,587
17. Bus services and urban transit: In 1990, 38% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 19% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $38,101
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $35,072
16. Miscellaneous plastics products manufacturing: In 1990, 50% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 30% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $38,636
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $38,109
15. Structural clay products manufacturing: In 1990, 50% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 30% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $40,033
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $32,538
Structural clay products include ceramic materials like bricks and tiles used in building structures.
14. Metals and minerals wholesale trade: In 1990, 46% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 26% in 2017 (a 20-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $48,510
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $54,020
13. Professional and commercial equipment and supplies wholesale trade: In 1990, 53% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 32% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $53,480
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $57,091
12. Fuel dealers: In 1990, 40% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 19% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $43,355
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $38,277
11. Air transportation: In 1990, 49% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 28% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $48,290
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $44,395
10. Miscellaneous nondurable goods wholesale trade: In 1990, 47% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 26% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $36,779
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $40,357
9. Pottery and related products manufacturing: In 1990, 46% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 25% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $38,931
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $40,549
8. Cement, concrete, gypsum, and plaster product manufacturing: In 1990, 46% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 25% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $44,822
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $46,439
7. Miscellaneous paper and pulp products manufacturing: In 1990, 46% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 25% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $42,083
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $47,564
6. Electrical goods wholesale trade: In 1990, 48% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 27% in 2017 (a 21-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $52,144
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $51,402
5. Computers and related equipment manufacturing: In 1990, 50% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 27% in 2017 (a 23-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $64,175
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $72,890
4. Printing, publishing, and allied industries, except newspapers: In 1990, 49% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 27% in 2017 (a 23-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $45,024
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $40,518
3. Dyeing and finishing textiles manufacturing: In 1990, 44% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 21% in 2017 (a 23-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $33,388
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $35,715
2. Machinery manufacturing: In 1990, 44% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 20% in 2017 (a 24-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $48,804
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $50,082
1. Wood building and mobile home manufacturing: In 1990, 57% of this workforce was aged 21 to 36, which fell to 31% in 2017 (a 26-point difference).
Average young-adult income in 1990 (2017 dollars): $37,799
Average young-adult income in 2017 (2017 dollars): $36,607
