A difficult job market and rising costs are making it harder for young adults to enter adulthood
Young people are already facing the worst entry-level job market since the start of the pandemic and significant economic instability.
But overall economic conditions are making it more challenging for those just entering adulthood. More than eight in 10 young adults rate the economy as “bad” or “terrible”, according to a recent survey conducted with more than 1,000 18- to 34-year-olds around the US by Generation Lab, a research firm studying young people. While young adulthood is known as a time for establishing independence and responsibility, many are attempting to do so amid cuts to social safety net programs and the ever-increasing costs of basic needs like gas and groceries.
“It’s been rough for a long time,” said Nia West-Bey, executive director of the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy. “But I think we particularly have a confluence of long-term economic challenges on the income side and support side, now coupled with an increase in expenses on everything.”
in like 2010-2012 I was making 68K a year and paying $700 in rent a month for a large 1 bedroom flat. I had more money and space than I knew what to do with. My only bills were rent, phone, and internet. that’s it. no debt, no credit card, nothing. so all my monthly bills combined was like $800. Every Tuesday I’d buy pretty much every new game release. all of them. I’d eat out or order in daily, I didn’t bother cooking or do grocery shopping. I’d buy dinner for friends, offer to pay the bill, etc. I was never broke. I had friggin 58k in disposable income!
Now if I was making 68k a year in the same city I’d be struggling. my rent for the same place would have more than tripled, probably way more. phone and internet would have gone way up. the fact that it’s gotten so much worse so rapidly is incredibly scary. At one point in my life in my early 30s I REALLY wanted kids, I really wanted to get married. now? forget about it. I’m in my 40s now and while I’m comfortable there’s no way in hell I’d ever want to expose children to this and the eventual future. I’m not bringing someone into this world to only say “welp, good luck!”. So I don’t even bother being in a relationship anymore, there’s no point. I consciously made the decision a few years ago to stop dating. When I get asked out I politely decline. I’ve lived with two different women on two separate occasions in my life so I experienced it. I’m good. Now it’s just making sure I earn enough to keep a roof over my head, my stomach fed, and my computer functioning until my body decides it’s time to go. I don’t care about eating healthy (i’m not over weight), I still smoke cigarettes, and I rarely go to the doctor even though I’m in Canada. I’m just making zero effort to prolong my life at this point because…again…what’s the point? I’ve lived it, I’ll slip out when the 'ol ticker decides its time. I don’t want to keep living this bullshit economy and i’m tired of seeing the younger generations having no choice but to struggle. honestly if I croak before I hit 50 i’ll be happy.
This reminds me, I need to make a living will. “Do not take extraordinary efforts to prolong my life, unless either of two situations occur - 1) capitalism collapses during my infirmity, or 2) I somehow receive a windfall of wealth such that any accrued medical debts would be covered by said-wealth.”
In other words, just pull the plug. Even if I wake up from a coma, being forced to spend the rest of my life paying off the debt from however long my hospital stay was would be a fate worse than death. At that point, fuck it all. I’d be done playing this stupid game.