Underemployment and the American Dream—“Underemployment‐Consciousness” and Radicalism Among Young Workers

Abstract

This paper explores propositions concerning the work attitudes and political views of educated young workers who are not able to find jobs commensurate with their education and skills. Underemployment theorists have proposed that growing numbers of college graduates are over‐educated for the jobs available to them and may develop (1) “underemployment‐consciousness” and (2) a new political radicalism growing out of their work‐deprivation. In a sample of predominantly college‐educated young unemployed workers, I report evidence of pervasive feelings of “over‐education” but relatively low “underemployment‐consciousness.” A significant relationship is reported between underemployment‐consciousness and radical political views among college graduates but not among non‐graduates, providing preliminary support for the proposition that political dissent is most likely to emerge among the highly educated underemployed. The persistent strength of the American Dream, including assumptions of individual mobility, success and luck, is discussed to interpret the relative optimism of approximately two thirds of these workers about finding interesting work and a challenging career.