The Blubber

According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center based on the latest Census Bureau data, in 2021, 68% of 25-year-olds were living away from their parents' home, 22% were married, and 17% had a child. In contrast, in 1980, 84% were living independently, 63% were married, and 39% had a child.

The challenges faced by the millennial generation, individuals born between 1981 and 1996 according to Pew's definition, have been extensively documented. Factors such as student loan debt, high housing costs, and the economic impact of the pandemic and other disruptions have hindered the financial well-being of many young Americans.

However, the overall situation is not entirely grim. Pew's research shows that 60% of 25-year-olds were considered "financially independent" in 2021, slightly lower than the 63% reported in 1980.

The analysis focused on five significant markers of adulthood: having a full-time job, financial independence, living independently, getting married, and having a child. It revealed that young women today are more likely to achieve financial independence, with 56% of 25-year-old women being financially independent in 2021, compared to 50% in 1980. In contrast, men are facing greater challenges, with only 64% achieving financial independence, compared to 77% in 1980.

Regarding full-time employment, the percentage of 25-year-old women holding such jobs remained consistent at 61%. However, men have experienced a decline, with only 71% being employed full-time compared to 85% in 1980, as reported by Pew.