1 in 5 Millennial Men in the US Live with Parents
"Possible Impact of the Pandemic"
A survey has found that the number of 'Kangaroo Tribe' men in the U.S. millennial generation (born from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s) who financially depend on their parents is increasing.
On the 29th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the number of millennial men in the U.S. who give up on pursuing higher education or employment and live off their parents has noticeably increased. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in five American men aged 25 to 34 still live with their parents. In contrast, the proportion of American women in the same age group who live with their parents without financial independence was less than one in eight.
This phenomenon is also reflected in the changing trends of economic activity between men and women. As of August, the labor force participation rate among American men aged 25 to 34 was 89.1%. In the 2000s, the labor force participation rate for men in this age group was over 90%. According to an analysis by the nonprofit Aspen Economic Strategy Group, the current labor force among American men in this age group has decreased by more than 700,000 compared to 20 years ago in 2004.
In contrast, economic activity among women in the same age group is on the rise. As of August, the labor force participation rate among American women aged 25 to 34 was 78.5%, an increase of 6 percentage points compared to 10 years ago.
Statistics related to 'NEET' (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), referring to young people who are unemployed and not receiving education or training for employment, also align with this trend. As of the first half of this year, 8.6% of American men aged 16 to 29 were classified as NEET. In comparison, 7.8% of women in the same age group were classified as NEET. This means there are approximately 260,000 more male NEETs than female NEETs.
Some experts attribute the cause of this phenomenon to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Men tend to rely more heavily on face-to-face contact to maintain social relationships, so they have had greater difficulty overcoming social isolation during the pandemic. Niobi Wei, a psychology professor at New York University, said, "Men are relatively less skilled at expressing emotions," adding, "Because of this, they may have difficulty making friends and may have experienced greater psychological shock."
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