This document discusses generational demographics in North Carolina. It finds that Millennials, born between 1982-2004, make up the largest generation in NC, numbering around 900,000 people. However, Baby Boomers remain the largest adult generation. The document also notes that Millennials are more racially diverse than older generations, and have lower rates of voter registration compared to other adult generations in NC.

1. Who are North Carolina’s Millennials?
Generational change in the Old North State

2. Image Source: Staff Sgt. William Sallette via Wikimedia Commons

3. Generation Birth Years
Greatest 1927 or before
Silent 1928 to 1945
Baby Boomers 1946 to 1964
Gen X 1965 to 1981
Millennials 1982 to 2004
Gen Z 2005 or later

4. Data Source: NC OSBM
1.25M
3.1M
2.3M
2.3M
0.9M
0.1M
Gen Z
(2005 - )
Millennial
(1982 - 2004)
Gen X
(1965 - 1981)
Baby Boomer
(1946 - 1964)
Silent
(1928 - 1945)
Greatest
( - 1927)
Millennials are the largest generation in NC
North Carolina's population by generation, 2014

5. Data Source: NC OSBM
1.25M
3.1M
2.3M
2.3M
0.9M
0.1M
Gen Z
(2005 - )
Millennial
(1982 - 2004)
Gen X
(1965 - 1981)
Baby Boomer
(1946 - 1964)
Silent
(1928 - 1945)
Greatest
( - 1927)
Millennials are the largest generation in NC
North Carolina's population by generation, 2014
1 in 3
North Carolinians
is a Millennial

6. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Greatest
Silent
Boomer
Gen X
Millennial
Gen Z
White Black Asian Hispanic Other
Younger generations are significantly more diverse
Race/ethnicity of NC residents by generation, 2013
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

7. Data Source: NC OSBM
Millennials clustered in college towns, urban areas
Population proportion Millennial, 2014

8. Data Source: NC OSBM
Gen Xers value urban—and suburban—spaces
Population proportion Generation X, 2014

9. The Millennial Experience
Comparing the generations at young adulthood (18-29)
Image Source: The New York Times, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?”

10. 14%
22%
28%
37%
Silent
Boomers
Gen X
Millennials
School attendance increases across generations
Share currently attending school among each generation in NC at ages 18-29
Data Sources: decennial census (1960, 1980, and 2000) and 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

11. 21
49% of Millennials have some
post-HS education
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

12. 84%
43%
84%
67%
82%
73%
77%
70%
Male Female
Silent Boomers Gen X Millennials
Data Sources: decennial census (1960, 1980, and 2000) and 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA
Labor force participation rates lower for Millennials
Labor force participation rates by sex among each generation in NC at ages 18-29

13. Data Sources: decennial census (1960, 1980, and 2000) and 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA
Unemployment rates are higher for Millennials
Unemployment rates by sex among each generation in NC at ages 18-29
4%
8%
6%
9%
8%
10%
15%
14%
Male Female
Silent Boomers Gen X Millennials

14. 35%
of Millennials
live with their
parents
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA | Image Source: “Boomerang Generation” by Daniel Clowes

15. www.wakegov.com
78%of Millennials are renting
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

16. 23%of Millennials
have ever married
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

17. 17% of Millennials have children
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

18. What does this mean
for the 2016 electorate?

19. Data Source: NC OSBM
1.25M
3.1M
2.3M
2.3M
0.9M
0.1M
Gen Z
(2005 - )
Millennial
(1982 - 2004)
Gen X
(1965 - 1981)
Baby Boomer
(1946 - 1964)
Silent
(1928 - 1945)
Greatest
( - 1927)
Millennials are the largest generation in NC…
North Carolina's population by generation, 2014

20. 2.0M
2.3M
2.3M
0.9M
0.1M
Millennial
(1982 - 2004)
Gen X
(1965 - 1981)
Baby Boomer
(1946 - 1964)
Silent
(1928 - 1945)
Greatest
( - 1927)
Data Source: NC OSBM
…but Baby Boomers are largest adult generation
North Carolina's 18+ population by generation, 2014

21. Greatest
( -1927)
Silent
(1928-1945)
Boomers
(1946-1964)
Gen X
(1965-1981)
31% Millennial
in 2017
Millennial
(1982-2004)
Gen Z
(2005- )
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
Proportionof18+Population
Year
Data Source: NC OSBM Single Year of Age Projections
Millennial adults will outnumber Boomers by 2017
Generational composition of North Carolina's 18+ population, 2010-2035

22. 5.1%
0.7%
1.3%
2.7%
10.0%
6.4%
1.1%
NC Total Greatest Silent Boomer Gen X Millennial Gen Z
Data Source: 2013 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA
Gen X, Millennials have higher share non-citizens
Share of non-citizens among North Carolina residents by generation, 2013

23. 71%
75%
82%
79%
68%
57%
NC Total Greatest Silent Boomer Gen X Millennial
Data Source: Carolina Demography calculations based on NC SBE active voter registrations and 2013 American Community Survey
Millennials have lowest rates of voter registration
Voter registration rate among eligible voters (citizen 18+), 2013

24. Eligibility & registration patterns shift generational
composition of NC’s 2016 electorate
Projected generational composition of adult population vs. registered voters, 2016
Data Source: Carolina Demography calculations based on data from NC SBE, 2013 ACS, and NC OSBM
11%
13%
30%
35%
29%
27%
30%
24%
Adult
Population
Registered
Voters
Greatest Silent Baby Boomers Gen X Millennials

25. Thank you!
http://demography.cpc.unc.edu
@ncdemography
Rebecca Tippett
(919) 962-6151
rebecca.tippett@unc.edu