Half of Costa Rica’s so-called “millennial” generation lacks any college or university education and yet manage to earn on average ¢405,335 per month (about US $775), according to an analysis by Amelia Rueda of data provided by the Continuous Employment Survey of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), the latest of which is based on the third quarter of 2015.

While not strictly defined, “millennials” are the demographic generation generally defined as those born between the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Also known as “Generation Y,” the demographic follows the previous generation known as “Generation X.” Generation X is generally considered those born between the early 1960s to the early 1980s.

Millennials have been generally characterized has having been born during the Internet and mobile technology era, and as looking for versatility and flexibility in the workplace while striving for a strong work-life balance in their jobs. Some employers describe the generation as being quite “demanding” of employers in deciding where to work.

There are nearly 1.8 million people in Costa Rica that can be defined as “millennials” according to INEC figures.

Of those, 85 percent have permanent employment while 15 percent were described as being unemployed as of the third quarter of 2015.

Millennial workers in Costa Rica are also known for changing their place of employment more often than those of previous generations in seeking better opportunities – 15 percent of employed millennials in the most recent survey said that they were actively looking to change jobs.

 

Exceeding expectations?

Data would seem to suggest that Costa Rica’s millennial generation are obtaining more education and better employment than its predecessors.

During the latest national census in 2013, the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure, also produced by INEC, revealed that 71 percent of the entire Costa Rican workforce had never attended college or university-level courses of any kind.

Perhaps more shocking, the 2013 survey found that more than half – 56 percent – of the country’s entire workforce had not even graduated high school.

Some 67 percent of Costa Rica’s workers earn less than ¢450,000 per month, according to data from early 2015. With the average employed millennial in Costa Rica earning ¢405,000 while still only in early adulthood, it would seem the latest generation of Ticos are doing relatively well for themselves compared to generations that preceded them.