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Young Canadians Now. Presented by Max Valiquette Presented to Halton Region “Breakfast with the Mayors” June 15, 2005. about youthography. Founded in 2001, Youthography is Canada’s leading youth marketing consultancy Youth market research, strategy and marketing
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Young Canadians Now Presented by Max Valiquette Presented to Halton Region “Breakfast with the Mayors” June 15, 2005
about youthography • Founded in 2001, Youthography is Canada’s leading youth marketing consultancy • Youth market research, strategy and marketing • Plenty of research (quant and qual) • We put ‘youth at the epicenter’ • A lot of marketing • ‘money where mouth is’ factor
contents • demographics • psychographics and values • youth trends right now • media • connecting to students
sources • Qualitative and quantitative research • Regular online surveying of young Canadians • Focus and immersion groups • Our youth community of approximately 14,000 + • Ping • Current trends and related stats • Statistics Canada • Will refer to periodically
the 4 x 5 factor • The 10-29 population divides into four equal five-year cohorts • This is the one thing you need to know…
demographics Statistics Canada, 2003
demographics • 80% are from families with 1-2 children at home • 60% of women work out of home • 67% of unmarried 20-24-year-olds live at home
demographics • 1 in every 2 young people (20-24) attending post-secondary school • More students working part-time and taking longer to graduate
impact • These demographic factors drive more youth trends than anything else… …keep this in mind as we move forward
psychographics • There is a prolonged pre-adult life stage • This is the one thing you need to know…
psychographics • Many youth ‘values’ actually have their roots in demographics… • Fewer siblings at home = reliance on friends • Single parent households = greater self-reliance • Six-pocket syndrome = more as-needed cash • Immigration = colour blindness and diversity
psychographics • Partially getting into adulthood earlier, but fully getting into adulthood later than ever… • Average age of 1st menstruation = 12 • Average age of 1st cigarette = 13 • Average age of 1st intercourse = 16 (>) • Average age at graduation = 26 (mean 23) • Average age of 1st marriage = 29 • Average age of 1st childbirth = 29
psychographics • Think about this: how old is someone who is on-line all the time, likes movies, has a cell phone and texts with it, is in school but working part-time, sort of knows what they want to do with their life, is unmarried, childless, drinks beer, has sex, lives at home, and smokes a bit of dope on some weekends? • Are they 15, or 25?
impact • Some responsibilities earlier, but full responsibilities later • They have more money to spend on food, fashion and fun than any other generation before • ‘Save to Spend’ mentality • Some saving, but short-term (so far) • Full adult purchases come later than ever
life stage borrowing 13 years 29 years
youth profile • Psychographic trending with youth in Canada continues to show a group that puts high priority on: • Responsibility (to self and society) • Balance • Individuality
youth profile • Considered by many to be a ‘hope generation’ • They want to change things • Focus on individual expression and creativity • Diversity of opinion and experience essential to this culture • Adbusters movement • A sense of being accountable
youth profile • Intensely aware of the world but not overwhelmed by it • Late ’90s = ‘everything fast, everything new’ • Now: still there, but balanced by a meaningful sense of responsibility and pragmatism
…so remember, it’s a high churn group • They’re moving! The only constant is change… • …rather than looking at fads, we try to look at trends • The best way to connect isn’t to segment them into tribes or to try to catch the latest thing, but to understand their values
what they value • Relationships • Communication • Information • Diversity • Empowerment • And what sews it all together…Technology
impact • College/university is no longer the huge jump…just another transition into adulthood that’s started when at 12 or 13 • Living a post-secondary lifestyle while still in high school • Controlling purchases (even if it’s not their money) for a long, long time: that has an impact on school-life expectations and desire to work
media in transition • There has never been such a huge shift in media habits as over the past decade • This is the one thing you need to know…
media in transition • Media exposure in an average day for youth: bathroom stalls mall internet bus stop school magazines public transit radio newspaper billboards TV wild postings videogames movie theatres
media in transition • Internet progression and adoption was incredibly fast compared to that of television: • 1994: Introduction of the Internet • 1995: In offices • 2001: In nearly every home and school; 9/10 of young people have “regular Internet access” • 2003: 54% of households have at least one member regularly using the Internet at home
television vs. the Internet • Based on BBM Statistics, teen television watching decreased by over 3 hours a week from 1996 to 2000… …versus one hour for 18+ Source, BBM 2000
time spent How many hours per week would you say you typically spend:
impact • On-line communication is necessary… • The Internet is still growing with this target, both in access (high-speed is growing and more people have access in multiple places making it more convenient) • Always available and always meets their schedule • You never have to explain anything—you can just show it to someone • Versatile (one medium, multiple uses) • a discussion board • skimming content on a major web portal • creating your own blog
5 ways schools are changing • Teachers: content providers to content facilitators • Always something newer out there • Need to know what’s right and what isn’t • Internet: the dominant force in education • The “self-directed” student • Global learning
5 ways schools are changing • Continued move to colleges (as opposed to Universities- or even after university) • Emphasis on “skills” for many; particularly relevant in an era of communications • The ‘end’of the school as social hub • Larger age gaps • More of a life that you can bring with you
5 ways schools are changing • Schools are more of a business • More expensive (means greater expectations) • Marketed as businesses are (the school as brand) • Elements surrounding schools – scholarship or research websites; on-campus businesses, etc – greater than ever before
marketing in schools Which of the following statements is closest to your opinion of marketing in schools, colleges or universities?
work and school Simply rate each of the following concepts, ideas or values in terms of their importance to YOUR LIFE
school • Formal education is seen as being most important for 18-22 year olds – the age where people are most likely to be in some form of post-secondary education • High school students are least likely to realize the importance of formal education or acquiring new skills… • …but like every other demo, place more importance on skills than a formal education
school • More and more getting involved in post secondary – at least 85% put high priority on “formal education” • Many take a vocational approach (the BA and certificate) • Tempered by an equal thirst for diversity of experiences that lead to a “more whole” life education • Lots more travel • Lots more “holding off” on a big career until later…looking for “street smarts” and life knowledge
school • They need more money than ever • Average tuition increased over 135% over the last 10 years • Average tuition in 2003 was $4,025 nationally
school • About half of college and university grads left school owing money for their education, mostly from government student loan programs • One in seven university graduates owes 25K or more in government student loans upon graduating • More are working part-time and taking longer to graduate
school Which sources, if any, are you depending on to help you fund your upcoming year of study? N=1258, Canadian Youth 13-29, Ping Survey, July 2004
school • Increasingly seen as part of a “whole life” equation • Increasingly seen as expensive • Increasingly seen as part of a longer period of transition into full adulthood • Increasingly difficult to connect to students through school and school alone
school • “I don’t think I am learning things in school that are going to help me get a job, though.” • Male community member, 17 • “I know that I have to get in [to a university] but none of us know what we’re going to be doing there. I’ll decide when I am there.” • Female community member, 17 • “Everyone knows that a BA won’t get you a job, but I’m taking one anyway.” • Female community member, 19
work • “Work,” for young Canadians, divides into three neat categories: • A job for money and money alone (tweens and teens) • A job for money and money alone (young adults who won’t be moving into a career they love) • A job for love (or at least like) and money (young adults who have started their careers)
work • Huge difference between job for money and jobs as a career: important to recognize those differences • “Money” jobs have a lot in common, one sector or industry to another • “Career” jobs are driven by a desire to get involved in a particular sector
work • “Money” jobs: a means to an end (usually paying for post-secondary education, a car, basic living expenses) until they leave post-secondary; or something they are “stuck” in • “Careers”: aspirations are for a “lifelong career” (less and less about a single employer or company) • “Money” and “Careers”: want a diversity of experiences – and while focusing on stability they put increasing emphasis on developing new skills, knowledge • Expect to be working at a whole range of jobs • Many have aspirations for owning own business
work • “I left high school and I knew I wasn’t going to college and I needed a job and here I am.” • Male community member, 22 • “I didn’t know how to do anything other than retail after school but it’s not what I wanted.” • Male community member, 20 • “I felt like if I wasn’t going to university or college or something then there wasn’t anything for me to do.” • Female community member, 24
lessons learned • This is a time of great transition for young people • More partially self-sufficient from an early age… • …but only totally self-sufficient at a later age • “Working” begins earlier, work-for-cash ends later: increased pressure to have job skills right away • But less of a feeling that education provides these practical skills • How to balance a need for academic and practical education?
