When it comes to financial stress, young adults in Massachusetts don't have to look far to find it.
Record-high gas prices, a dearth of affordable housing, the relatively slow pace of job growth, and a sputtering national economy all combine to paint a gloomy picture for people between the ages of 25 and 39.
A study released today, though, suggests young adults in the Bay State aren't buying it.
Conducted by economic research group MassINC, the report, entitled "Great Expectations: A Survey of Young Adults in Massachusetts," reveals a surprisingly upbeat attitude among young adults.
While survey participants cited issues such as housing costs, personal finances and slow job growth as challenges, only 4 percent said they think their income will go down in the next five years, while only 7 percent who are parents believe their children will be worse off financially than they are.
"We're very excited (because)...we believe this is the first of its kind survey of this demographic, certainly, in Massachusetts, and maybe the first of its kind nationally," MassINC President Greg Torres said earlier this week.
"We were struck by the level of optimism, generally, of this demographic around their quality of life and their future and sort of the American dream in general," Torres said.
That optimism, however, does not carry over into public policy.
Overall, nearly two-thirds of 801 survey participants said they were "not too confident" or "not at all confident" in government's ability to tackle the problems that are most important to them.
"What showed up is government is really facing this confidence gap," said MassINC's research director, Dana Ansell. "People have this long list of issues they want government to solve, but at the same time, people aren't confident in government's ability to do so. That should be a real wake-up call (that) government needs to build the confidence of young adults."
In contrast to the demographic's views on government, the study found an overwhelming majority of those surveyed expressed satisfaction with their jobs, while nearly 90 percent said they felt their employers are socially responsible.
The public-private findings suggest government might take some lessons from businesses on keeping young adults happy, Ansell said.
"Some of the questions we raise, based on the findings, would merit more follow-up," she said. "What is it that government can learn from the private sector? The private sector is clearly reaching young adults."
Torres takes the findings even further, and hinted at the notion of using public-private partnerships to tackle issues important to young adults, including housing.
"This might be an opportunity for the leadership in the political establishment and the leadership of the business community to address a problem like that at a very high level," he said. "Maybe it's time, on some of these other issues, for there to be a joint public-private attempt to solve some of these very difficult-to-work-out problems."
A concerted effort to solve the problems facing young adults would be music to 36-year-old Maureen Medaglia's ears.
The Framingham resident, who is legally blind and has two children, has been looking for work since leaving a restaurant job in January, but has so far struck out.
"They don't make it easy for you," Medaglia said after explaining she has met with career counselors and searched for work at the South Middlesex Opportunity Council's Career Center.
"I'm willing to work," she said. "I'm not willing to just sit here and collect Social Security. I know I have limitations, but I'm willing to deal with that on a daily basis...and be a good example for my children."
But despite having now gone more than six months without a job, Medaglia - like others in the survey - remained hopeful.
"I keep saying if I take all these workshops, and I do all these things, it's going to be better for me," she said. "But by the same token I'm scared to death."
The outlook is somewhat more secure for Matthew, a 37-year-old firefighter and Waltham resident, who asked that his last name not be used.
The father of three children, Matthew said his job is stable, but cited the high cost of gas as a primary concern when it comes to making ends meet today.
"Driving the kids around here and there, the fuel costs are killing us," he said. "You just can't get ahead. We're not struggling with anything yet, but sooner or later something's going to give."
As with most other survey participants, however, Matthew was leery of government's ability to correct the problem.
"I don't think it's in the cards," he said. "There's nothing our government can do to change the world - it's a global thing right now."
Still, he believes the American dream of ensuring his children are better off than he is remains achievable.
"You have to have the idea your kids are going to be better off," he said. "You have to. If you don't, you might as well give up."
(Peter Reuell can be reached at 508-626-4428, or at preuell@cnc.com.)
