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Student loan debt is a top concern of young adult job seekers as they enter the job market and evaluate the employment opportunities, according to research commissioned by the American Institute of CPAs.
Among millennials in an online survey who were asked which three benefits would best help them achieve their financial goals, student loan forgiveness was the third most-cited option, after health insurance and paid time off.
AICPA said in a statement that this demonstrated to employers that besides health and work-life balance, student loans are a primary concern for young adults entering the workforce. It said this priority may prompt some new graduates to pursue careers in public service where student loan forgiveness is a more common incentive.
But forgiveness isn't the only way to help graduates pay down their debt. A bill recently introduced in the Senate Finance Committee, the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act, would allow employers to match workers' student debt payments with contributions to their 401(k)s, so they could start saving for retirement while repaying their loans. And retirement plan providers are starting to offer solutions to help workers manage their debt along with their retirement savings.
These were among the benefits respondents listed in their top three choices:
- Health insurance – 54%
- Paid time off – 45%
- Student loan forgiveness – 41%
- Working remotely – 38%
- 401(k) match – 36%
AICPA said the relatively low priority respondents placed on 401(k) match may have to do with the seeming remoteness of retirement.
"Early career decisions often have a major impact later in life," Gregory Anton, chairman of the AICPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, said in a statement. "A mentality of 'I'll start saving when I get a bit older' often results in retirement savings being put on the back burner.
