Two-thirds of teens, or 66.9 percent, indicated they would like to start their own business someday, according to the sixth annual JA Worldwide “InterpriseT Poll on Entrepreneurship,” down from the 70.9 percent who expressed interest in becoming entrepreneurs in last year’s poll and the first decline since 2004. The poll was administered in early 2007, and more than 800 teens aged 13-19 participated.

“There appears to be a connection between teens’ interest in starting a business and the overall state of employment in the country,” said Gerald M. Czarnecki, president and chief executive officer of JA Worldwide.

“Starting with the 2001 recession, the job market experienced considerable weakness for several years and teen interest in becoming entrepreneurs climbed. When the job market improves, as it has in recent years, interest in starting a business seems to decline. Whether teens opt to start their own business or work for an existing business, Junior Achievement programs will prepare them to succeed.”

Read the full Poll Results on Teens and Entrepreneurship.

Like this Article - Subscribe to My RSS Feed