In a recent white paper, ''How Central Is Work to Young Adults?" written by Phil Gardner of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute (CERI) at Michigan State University and Georgia Chao of the Eli Broad College of Business also at Michigan State University, research was cited in support of the theory that today's young adults don't view their jobs as the primary focus of their lives, the way earlier generations did. Although work is important to them, they also care about having time to spend with family and friends, and doing things they enjoy like hobbies and/or volunteering.

Ten thousand young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 were surveyed. The results of the survey - done in 2005 - were compared to one done in 1982, offering these three statements:

• Life is worth living only when people get absorbed in work.
• Work should be considered central to life.
• The most important things that happen in live involve work.

Young adults in 2005 were more likely to disagree - either moderately or strongly - with these opinions than were their counterparts in 1982. The survey went on to break the results down into differences between genders and found that women were more likely to disagree with the above statements than were men - probably, they surmised, because women usually have other concerns like children and taking care of their homes. Continue reading about the importance of work centrality ...

Article by, Candice Arnold and courtesy of CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.