Paul Taylor | Generational Expert Speaker on Millennials

The America of the near future will look nothing like the America of the recent past. America is in the throes of a demographic overhaul. Huge generation gaps have opened up in our political and social values, our economic well-being, our family structure, our racial and ethnic identity, our gender norms, our religious affiliation, and our technology use.

Today’s Millennials—well-educated, tech savvy, underemployed twenty-somethings—are at risk of becoming the first generation in American history to have a lower standard of living than their parents. The changing of our population has helped polarize our politics, put stresses on our social safety net, and presented our elected leaders with a daunting challenge.

Drawing on Pew Research Center’s extensive archive of public opinion surveys and demographic data, Taylor illustrates a rich portrait of where we are as a nation and where we’re headed—toward a future marked by the most striking social, racial, and economic shifts the country has seen in a century.

Generations and Demographics
Author, The Next America: Boomers, Millennials and the Looming Generational Showdown

• Former Executive VP of Pew Research Center
• At the Washington Post, covered three US presidential campaigns and was South Africa bureau chief
• Uses demographic trend data to show how America is aging and growing more racially diverse
• Presents social, economic, political and technological portraits of the Millennial and Boomer generations

Diversity and Inclusion
Author, The Next America

• Former EVP of Pew Research Center and Washington Port reporter
• Presents data on whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, mixed race, LGBT
• Uses animated infographics and video clips
• Covered race relations in US as well as South Africa’s transition to democracy

Future Trends
Author, The Next America: Boomers, Millennials and the Looming Generational Showdown

• Uses animated infographics to show future trends in aging, racial diversity, economic well-being
• Compares demographic trends in US with those in Asia, Europe, and the developing world
• Shows impact of immigration on future US economy, racial makeup

Politics
Author, The Next America

• Covered three US presidential campaigns as Washington Post politics reporter
• Conducted extensive political surveys  as EVP of Pew Research Center
• Describes demographic roots of America’s growing political polarization
• Uses animated infographics to analyze identity group voting trends

The 80-million strong Millennial generation is now the largest age cohort in America's workforce. This talk profiles them as employees, consumers, parents, spouses and citizens.

Using attitudinal surveys and behavioral data, it describes their economic circumstances, political and social values, racial characteristics, and gender roles.

It also delves into their family structures, life priorities, social media habits, workplace expectations, consumer preferences and patterns of personal and institutional trust.

Between now and mid-century, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will nearly double, putting unprecedented pressure on public and private retirement financing, health care costs, family budgets and intergenerational relationships.

This talk describes the social, economic and political dimensions of this "gray tsunami" and compares the challenges facing the United States with those in Europe and East Asia, where populations are growing older even faster.