The Echo Boom – is the demographic phase in which a population
increase is created as people born during the post-World War II baby
boom have their own children
It is called an “echo” Each generation will create an echo of itself,as we
will explore further
•The Echo Boom generation has many names, including:
•Generation Y – this was the group of children born between 1980 and 1995
to parents who were born during the Baby Boom
•The group at the base is referred to as Generation Z or Millennium
kids – they are the demographic group born after the mid-1990’s
(typically the children of the twentysomethings)
Regional Differences of the Echo Boom
•Since there are variations in birth and immigration
patterns not every province will have the same population
trends
•The territories and Saskatchewan have high Echo Boom
populations which reflects the large Aboriginal populations
•Ontario also has high Echo Boom population because of
high birthrates and specifically immigration
•In the Atlantic provinces, because they have not attracted
young immigrants and many people have been leaving
because of lack of employment, they do not have another
bulge in their populations
Many needs have to met while dealing with the Echo Boom:
•In Ontario, there is a predicted increase of 80,000 university students by
the year 2010 – which was also brought on by the double cohort
•Within the coming years, every university needs to expand their facilities
to accommodate all students
•In order for a generation to replenish itself each couple must have two
children
•The number of children born to women in 1960 was 3.5 children, the
number of children dropped down to 1.5 in 1980
•Since the Echo Boom generation is fairly large there have been
some strains that they have caused
•Can you name a strain and a sign of this strain?
•Schooling – many Echo Boom kids benefited from attending
brand new schools
BUT…
•This also caused a strain because schools were not large enough
and many have to deal with portables and crowded classrooms
•The Echo Boomers will have an advantage in the work force since
they will be entering the job market as the Baby Boomers begin to
retire
•The Echo Boomers also have buying power as many have part
time jobs and also “six pockets” – receiving money from two
parents and four grandparents
Echo Boomers have more money to spend than previous generations:
Evidence of this, can be seen through:
•The strong shift of radio and television programming to youth markets
•More than ever before, youth are being marketed electronics, music and
video (iPODS!), convenience food, clothing, live entertainment, games
(computer or video), etc
Increasingly the Echo Boom generation is linked with
violence, self-centered behaviour, an “all me” attitude,
laziness, and have been given the label of the obnoxious
teenager.
How do you see your generation?