The world is facing an unprecedented crisis. According to recent studies, an entire generation of young people may never experience the transition to adulthood. In the United States, for example, more than 20% of 18 to 34-year-olds still live with their parents. In the UK, the number of people in this age group living with their parents has increased by 20% in just five years.
Experts attribute this phenomenon to a combination of factors, including the economic downturn, student loan debt, and a changing concept of adulthood. The old rules of adulthood – getting married, buying a home, finding a stable job – are no longer the universal checklist for many young people. Instead, they are opting for a longer period of dependence on their parents, and even, in some cases, their roommates or partners.
As a result, the traditional markers of adulthood – like getting a degree, starting a family, and securing a mortgage – are being redefined. The concept of “adulting” is evolving, and the notion of when someone becomes an adult is being reevaluated. The current generation is too busy struggling to pay their student loan bills, working part-time jobs, and competing for a shrinking number of entry-level positions to even think about starting their own families.
This crisis has far-reaching implications. When a whole generation fails to grow up, the consequences are multifaceted. For one, it means a significant portion of the workforce is stuck in limbo, unable to commit to long-term relationships or put down roots in one place. It also means that governments and companies may struggle with a lack of trained, educated, and ambitious workers to fuel economic growth.
Perhaps most troublingly, it suggests that a generation is being forced to redefine what it means to be an adult, to what extent people are willing to take on the responsibilities that come with maturity, and what is the baseline for successful transition from youth to adulthood. As the number of young people who never grow up continues to rise, society must confront the new reality – and come up with innovative solutions to support those who are struggling to make the leap to adulthood.