Far Fewer Young Adults Are Reaching Life’s Mileposts
About 50 years ago, nearly half of Americans aged 25 to 34 had reached key milestones of adulthood: getting married, having children, working full-time, and living independently. Today, that number has dropped to less than 25%, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data reported by CNBC.
Statisticians say the decline is significant and appears tied to shifting priorities among younger generations. As the cost of housing and other living expenses continues to rise, financial security has become a more urgent goal than traditional markers of adulthood.
A separate report from the Pew Research Center supports this view, linking economic challenges to the trend among millennials and Gen Z to delay major life events. Student debt is a major factor, researchers say, with many young adults still paying off college loans — often for degrees their parents never had to finance. That debt burden can lead people to postpone buying homes, getting married, or starting families.
“For me, the focus is on my career,” said Mellisa Soehono, a 29-year-old public relations executive in Florida. “Because that’s really all I have right now.”
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