This virtual event gives small business owners the chance to hear directly from procurement officers about opportunities to work with them.
05/29/2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Virtual
Join us for an exclusive networking event at the Museum of Fine Arts and enjoy self-guided tours of John Wilson and Van Gogh, showcasing the deep bond of family, friendship, and community.
06/05/2025
5:30pm - 8:30pm
Museum of Fine Arts
The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.
06/12/2025
2:45pm - 4:30pm
Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.
Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.
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For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
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City Awake and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation commissioned a survey from HIT Strategies in November and December 2023 targeting over 800 residents aged 20-30 within the Greater Boston area (including Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties). The survey’s main objective was to gain insight into the attitudes and perspectives of young residents towards the region, alongside understanding their core values and priorities professionally and personally.
Here, we dive into some of the key findings regarding the current quality of life among young residents.
The survey uncovered some fascinating insights into young residents’ daily lives and future plans. The good news is, 89% of respondents reported satisfaction with their day-to-day life in this vibrant region, across race and gender lines.
However, when it comes to making decisions about staying in Greater Boston, certain key factors emerge as crucial. Job availability, the cost of rent, and the prospect of buying a home are the top concerns for young residents looking to establish their lives and careers here. Of the survey respondents, 87% prioritize job availability, while 83% express concern about the cost of rent, and 78% are keen on the ability to purchase a home.
Despite the overall contentment with life in Greater Boston, there is a concerning trend. 25% of young residents are considering leaving the city within the next five years, potentially impacting the region’s vitality as individuals seek more affordable alternatives elsewhere.
Of the young residents who responded to questions about their plans to leave, responses vary across different identities. While a considerable 76% of millennial women and 77% of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals expressed intentions to stick around, a concerning 35% of Black women and 31% of LGBTQ+ individuals indicated a higher likelihood of leaving the region.
What’s particularly striking is the differing priorities among these groups. For Black women and LGBTQ+ individuals, cultural and racial diversity emerged as pivotal factors influencing their decision to stay or go—a perspective that adds depth to our understanding of the dynamics shaping Greater Boston’s demographic landscape.
While many young residents surveyed said they find it relatively easy to forge connections and build community in Greater Boston, a significant 22% have encountered difficulties in this regard. This challenge may play a vital role in their considerations about leaving the area.
The survey revealed variations among different demographic groups. Parents, for instance, seem to have an easier time building community, with 60% reporting so. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to face hurdles in community-building, with 32% expressing difficulty.
For those with plans to leave within the next five years, the struggle to build community is even more pronounced, with 39% finding it challenging. The survey makes it clear that factors like entertainment options, transportation, and achieving a healthy work-life balance can either facilitate or hinder community-building efforts in Greater Boston.
Respondents who reported difficulty in community-building highlighted the importance of having more entertainment options (46%) and improved transportation (35%) as potential solutions to make building connections easier for them. These insights underscore the multifaceted nature of community-building and the diverse needs of residents across different areas throughout Greater Boston.
Transportation continues to be a key area that affects quality of life concerns in Greater Boston.
For those 25% of young residents who plan to leave in the next five years and those 11% who reported being dissatisfied with day-to-day life here, a notable commonality emerged: transportation challenges. It’s clear that these individuals face difficulty with transportation at significantly higher rates – of those who reported dissatisfaction living in Greater Boston, 33% reported a negative experience with transportation versus 23% for the average respondent.
The survey results also delve deeper into transportation patterns: young residents of color reported relying on public transit more heavily than others. AAPI and Black residents, in particular, are more likely to regularly use the T and bus services, shedding light on how inefficiencies within the public transport system may disproportionately affect their daily commutes, general mobility, and overall experiences in the Commonwealth.
Only 18% of the young residents surveyed said they own a home or condo, with most young people in Greater Boston renting or living with relatives. Not surprisingly then, housing affordability stood out as an important factor for young people choosing to stay or leave Greater Boston – and they want local leaders to prioritize it.
There is high agreement that affordable housing is the top issue young people in Greater Boston want local leaders to prioritize (66% selected), as well as availability of quality jobs (39%), and financial compensation and wages (35%).
It’s clear that housing and job availability are more than just talking points; they’re the key factors shaping the future of Greater Boston for its vibrant young population.
City Awake, the young professionals’ network of the Chamber Foundation, is working to use this survey data to further elevate the voices of young residents and provide ways to foster community and belonging to ensure they stay and succeed in this region.
To explore more findings from the survey, view the full report here.
May 09, 20245:00pm – 7:00pmErnst & Young
May 02, 20244:30pm – 8:00pmBoston Convention and Exhibition Center
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