Fewer young adults are achieving economic and family milestones typically associated with adulthood, according to a recent working paper from the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to the working paper, “Changes in Milestones of Adulthood,” almost half of all young adults in 1975 had reached four milestones associated with adulthood: moving out of one’s parents’ home, getting a job, getting married and having a child.

Five decades on, that progression has changed dramatically. The share of young adults that have followed the traditional pathway to adulthood has dropped to less than a quarter, according to the paper.

  • protist@mander.xyz
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    2 days ago

    It’s not just Gen Xers, speaking as a millennial, I bought a house with my wife in 2015 that was just over 2x our combined income at the time, which was not very high as we were both recently out of school, and we refinanced in '21 for a 2.7% interest rate. Out of control home prices nationwide coupled with high interest rates only hit after covid

    • thedruid@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I appreciate the insight as I’m a bit older and can’t look at it from that vantage. , but I’d ask if it wasn’t always going to go up again after the 08 bubble.

      But I’m not economist. Just going off memory, so file this under “could be?”

      • JonsJava@lemmy.worldM
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        1 day ago

        I’m a millennial. Bought my house in a rural location for $70k at 3% interest in 2018

        Due to the out of control housing market, it’s now “worth” $150k

        This market makes it impossible for younger generation to have a chance.