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.”
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.