Summary Box: Widening gap between young and old

STRUGGLING YOUNG ADULTS: Squeezed by a tight job market, 20- and 30-something Americans are struggling. They have suffered bigger income losses than other age groups and are less likely to be employed than at any time since World War II.

TOUGH TIMES: A Pew Research Center survey found that 41 percent of Americans believe young adults have been hit harder than any other group.

GENERATIONAL SETBACK: At least 69 percent of survey respondents said it's more difficult for today's young adults than their parents' generation to pay for college, find a job, buy a home or save for the future.