Young Adults Put Life on Hold Over Economy

The economy is doing a number on those aged 18 to 34, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center:

• Half say they have taken a job they didn't want.
• More than a third have gone back to school because of the job market.
• Nearly a quarter have taken unpaid work to gain experience.
• About a quarter have moved back in with the folks.
• More than 1 in 5 have postponed having a baby, and about the same number have put off getting married.

Despite all that, nine in 10 say they make enough money now to lead the life they want or anticipate doing so in the future, notes the Los Angeles Times. "We don't know if that's grounded in anything, but that response was one of the things we thought was so interesting," says a Pew researcher. "In spite of all the challenges they're facing, they're still really optimistic about their future." (More economy stories.)