More Americans Worry That the Labor Market Wonât Improve for the Next Generation Rutgers study finds that more than half fear they wonât be able to financially support their families Newswise — More Americans think that jobs, careers and employment opportunities after the pandemic will be harder to obtain for the next generation than they were following the 2008 Great Recession, according to a new Rutgers report. The report, published by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, found that less than half -- 46 percent of Americans surveyed at the end of 2020 -- are optimistic that economic conditions will improve in 2021, while 30 percent think conditions will deteriorate. The rest expect no change whatsoever.