Forget the follies of youth. Today, it's more about financial hardship.

According to new data from a Pew Research Center survey, the Great Recession hasn't spared those ages 18-34.

A total of 49 percent of those polled say that because of economic conditions during the past few years, they have taken a job they didn't want in order to pay the bills. More than one-third say they have gone back to school because of the bad economy. Nearly 25 percent have taken an unpaid job to gain work experience.
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Worse still, most young workers say they don't have the education and training to get ahead. Among those employed, 46 percent say they have the education and training necessary to move up in their job or career, and of those unemployed, only 27 percent say they are prepared for the kind of job they want.

The hit just hasn't been felt in young people's pockets, but also their personal lives. A total of 22 percent have postponed parenthood and 20 percent have put off taking a walk down the aisle and saying I do. Nearly 25 percent have had to move back home with their parents after having tasted the freedom of living on their own.

The good news is, they're haven't lost the optimism of youth. Nearly nine-in-10 say they either have or earn enough money now, or expect they will in the future.

Only 9 percent say they don't think they will ever have enough to live the life they want. Their level of optimism is undiminished from where it was in 2004.