Up to half of young talent may leave due to abortion bans, according to a new CNBC/Generation Lab youth survey.

• A recent survey by NBC/Generation Lab reveals that almost two-thirds of younger workers would "probably not" or "definitely not" reside in a state that prohibits abortion.
• The CEO of The Generation Lab, Cyrus Beschloss, stated that the numbers related to abortion have significant consequences for almost all major corporations in the United States.
• Over the past two years, more than 20 states have imposed limitations on the procedure.

A survey from CNBC/Generation Lab reveals that the youngest American workers are ready to relocate from states that enact abortion bans and to decline job offers in states where such bans already exist.

Almost two-thirds of respondents in a survey of more than 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 34 would "probably not" or "definitely not" reside in a state that prohibited abortion.

If offered a job in a state where abortion is illegal, 45% of surveyed respondents would definitely or probably reject the offer, while 35% would probably accept it, and only 20% would definitely take it.

"The CEO of The Generation Lab, Cyrus Beschloss, stated that the numbers related to abortion have significant consequences for large corporations in America. Companies will face the challenge of losing or scaring off a significant portion of their young talent if they are based in states with strict abortion laws."

In the past two years, more than 20 states have either banned or restricted access to abortion following the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

According to surveys such as the CNBC/Generation Lab poll, abortion bans could significantly influence the living and job choices of the next generation of American workers, as well as the companies that will be hiring them.

The survey was conducted from April 26 to May 2, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

Sour on the economy

The survey revealed that many respondents held a negative view of a robust economy.

Although jobless rates have historically been low, only 6% of those surveyed believe the current job market is "great." Thirty-eight percent said it is "satisfactory," while 44% felt "pretty bad" was the most accurate, and 11% chose "extremely bad."

The latest U.S. government employment report, released last Friday, revealed that job growth slowed more in April than anticipated by economists. However, the overall unemployment rate remains under 4% for the twenty-seventh consecutive month, indicating a strong job market. Additionally, the report showed annual wage growth at 3.9% for the twelve months through April, marking the first time since June 2021 it has fallen below 4%.

Investing, inflation and housing

The CNBC/Generation Lab poll revealed that young Americans aged 18 to 34 are struggling with high inflation. Following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep rates unchanged at its latest meeting, Chairman Jerome Powell stated that inflation remains too high.

Powell stated at a Washington press conference that the path to bringing it down is uncertain.

According to the survey, 54% of respondents feel the most impact of inflation on the cost of food, while rent inflation was the second most significant factor, with 22% of respondents stating this. Discretionary spending, health-care costs, and utility bills were also mentioned as areas where respondents felt the impact of inflation.

The major concern for housing is high prices, with 68% of surveyed respondents stating that housing is available but not affordable, and an additional 21% saying it is too difficult to find.

Elevated mortgage rates, ranging from 7.5%, make it challenging for current homeowners to upgrade and for first-time buyers to enter the market.

Young people are facing challenges in buying homes, according to Delano Saporu, CEO of New Street Advisors Group, a wealth management firm that focuses on younger investors. Saporu's clients are typically middle income with a steady job and salary.

"Mortgage rates are exerting additional strain on client budgets and restricting their purchasing power," he stated. "Numerous individuals are anticipating and wishing for future Fed rate reductions to lower mortgage rates."

The poll found that enthusiasm for investing has decreased after last year's market run, with 42% of respondents stating that they are not investing or saving at the moment and 18% keeping all their money in cash.

"Saporu stated that the enthusiasm for purchasing stocks has decreased, as individuals are now less hopeful about investing due to the market's halt in its rapid upward trend."

In the survey, just 17% of young people reported that they are currently investing in stocks.

Saporu stated that he has observed a decrease in clients' interest in random crypto coins and stocks.

Social issues for young voters

In a poll, TikTok and another social issue were the main concerns for a majority of respondents. TikTok has been a contentious topic lately, with President Biden signing a bill that could lead to the app's Chinese owner selling the company or facing a U.S. ban.

A majority of survey respondents, 70%, recommended allowing TikTok to continue operating as usual, while 30% preferred a U.S. ban on the app.

The debate over a four-day workweek is gaining momentum, with Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets and head of the hedge fund Point 72, expressing his belief in its feasibility in a recent exclusive interview on CNBC.

A majority of young people surveyed, 81%, believed that implementing technology in their workplace would enhance productivity, while only 19% believed it would decrease productivity.

Biden vs. Trump vs. Kennedy

The upcoming November presidential election seems to be altering certain conventional youth voting tendencies, at least temporarily.

According to a recent survey by CNBC and Generation Lab, if an election were held today, younger voters would be almost evenly divided between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, with only a 1% difference in their support, with 36% favoring Biden and 35% supporting Trump.

In a three-way race, 29% of respondents said they would vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The million-dollar question about Kennedy is who he takes support away from.

According to a poll, 40% of people think Trump would be better at managing the economy than Biden, who received 34% support, and Kennedy, who received 25%.

Generation Lab's Beschloss called those numbers "jarring" for Democrats.

This year, the tide of reproductive rights voters, who tend to strongly favor Democrats over Republicans, could counteract the downward drag of inflation and economic pessimism.

In November, several states will have initiatives on their ballots to protect abortion rights, including Arizona and Florida.