The millennial generation is generally defined as people who, today, are between the ages of 18 and 34. It's a generation whose influence is being courted in many political and policy debates.
A new study, compiled by the Public Policy Forum with the Milwaukee Business Journal, tries to quantify attitudes among Milwaukee-area millennials regarding a number of policy issues.
The study primarily focuses on the types of characteristics millennials find attractive in a metro region, which can influence their decision on where to live. Other issues highlighted include: transportation, culture and entertainment, and workplace environment.
President of the Public Policy Forum Rob Henken explains that despite other generations' perceptions about millennials, they are just as concerned about policy that influences the city as a whole, not just the younger population.
"What is important to millennials does not appear to be much different from what, at least, I expected would have been the case if we had surveyed the general population," Henken says.
Crime rate and jobs was most commonly cited as important. However, Henken notes that for a more comprehensive study of millennials, the survey should be expanded to all Milwaukee populations.
"When individuals who are working on very important policy matters do try to engage input from millenials, it tends to be young, urban professional millennials as opposed to millennials living in West Bend, or Cudahy or Greenfield," he says.
