The Priorities of Tomorrow's Workforce.

Business Editors

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2002

The future workforce of America has clear-cut priorities when it comes to balancing career and family.

In a survey conducted by Adecco (NYSE:ADO), the nation's largest staffing service company, 95% of

The survey, conducted at Adecco headquarters in Melville, NY as part of its annual "Take A Child to Work Day" program, questioned 74 children between the ages of 6 and 14 about their career expectations. Although statements like, "I want to make 50 thousand-million-hundred dollars a day" make it difficult to label the survey as scientific, it certainly puts it among the most honest.

Besides the occasional paleontologist, the most popular career option for girls 6 to 9 years old is medicine, with 30% of that group naming doctor, nurse, dentist or veterinarian as their chosen career. Professional sports (including a budding hockey goalie), the arts, and teaching were also frequent choices. Boys in the same age group are more drawn to public-sector jobs such as police officer and firefighter (32%), with a neurosurgeon, a floor tiler, and a NY Mets catcher thrown in for good measure. However, one young man in this group turned down run-of-the-mill professions, stating emphatically that he wants to be "a regular man."

Girls in the 10 to 12 age range are interested in teaching (35%), law (15%), and becoming a singer (15%). Boys 10 to 12 have varied interests, with career goals such as architect, a guard on a professional basketball team, and a computer rep. The older girls, aged 13-14, are drawn to more glamorous careers like rapper and model, while the only teenaged boy in the survey is determined to become an Air Force pilot.

As might be expected, the older children had more realistic expectations for a yearly salary, but even their estimates included a diabetes doctor earning $1,000 per year and a teacher making $150,000. In the under 10 category, 65% of respondents expect to earn $5,000 or less, with a prospective paleontologist making a mere $159 per year. The highest expected income in the under 10 age range is $1 million, for positions as varied as model, professional soccer player, flooring salesman, and preacher.

The children were also asked what they think is the coolest job in the universe. While many actually are going after the coolest job they can imagine, some children named positions that for one reason or another they consider out of their reach. In this category, the job named most often was president of the United States. Other intriguing answers include penguin trainer, McDonald's owner, gospel singer, toy store manager, and "the person that guards the roller coasters."

Children's plans for retirement are as varied as their career aspirations. For their golden years, some have the usual plans to travel, move to Florida, and relax (although one intends to stay at home and drink coffee). Others have grander ambitions, such as building a new career such as scientist, sportscaster, and starting a home business. Several plan to take up new hobbies like skydiving and gardening. One boy simply states that he will have to "watch my step, because I'll be old." More than anything, though, they expect to spend more time with their families, including taking care of their parents.

Although the majority of the children lack an accurate sense of money, this survey proves that thoughts of a career--and life beyond a career--begin at an early age. Based on this survey, Adecco predicts that tomorrow's workforce will contribute greatly to society with their intelligence and wit, and that above all, they understand the importance of balancing work and family in attaining the good life.

About Adecco

Adecco SA is a Forbes 500 company and the global leader in HR Solutions. The Adecco network connects up to 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 30,000 employees and more than 6,000 offices in 59 countries around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, Adecco delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

The Group comprises three divisions--Adecco Staffing, Ajilon Staffing & Managed Services, and Career Services/e-Business & Others. In Adecco Staffing, the Adecco staffing network focuses on flexible staffing solutions for global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics and telecommunications. Ajilon Staffing and Managed Services offers an unrivalled range of specialized branded businesses. Career Services/e-Business & Others encompasses our portfolio of outplacement, e-recruiting, and executive search businesses.

Adecco North America serves more than 70,000 clients a year through 1,700 points of sales and service in every state and seven Canadian provinces. With headquarters in Melville, NY, Adecco North America employs about 3,300 full-time employees and places more than 160,000 temporary associates each week.

Adecco SA is listed on the Swiss Exchange (ADEN / trading on Virt-x: 1213860), NYSE (ADO), Euronext Premier Marche (12819). Further information can be found at www.adecco.com.