It’s hardly a secret that millennials are charting their own course, diverging from the traditional paths laid out by previous generations. A recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau highlights that many millennials are prioritizing education and career over marriage and starting a family.
For millennials—defined here as individuals aged 18 to 34—graduating from college often comes with a hefty burden: student loan debt. Many find themselves in a tough spot, unable to land jobs that provide enough income to manage their loans, rent, and daily expenses. With financial pressures like these, it’s understandable that marriage and children might take a backseat, even if those milestones are still part of their future plans.
As noted in a Time article discussing this report, a significant 55% of young adults today see marriage and children as low on their priority list. This marks a drastic change from 1975, when a whopping 80% were married by 30. The report states, “Today’s young adults differ from previous generations in almost every aspect: educational attainment, work experience, timing of family formation, and even living arrangements during their upbringing.”
Growing up, my parents instilled the value of education in me. They wanted more for me than what their generation experienced—many of my relatives either didn’t attend college or dropped out before finishing. I took their advice to heart, graduating high school ranked 10th in my class and earning a 3.4 GPA in college. Yet even with these achievements, finding stable employment has proven challenging since I graduated in 2008. I joined the ranks of those 1 in 3 young Americans who moved back in with their parents, a reality not just a cliché but a necessity in a struggling economy. It was far from my original game plan, but it alleviated financial stress by eliminating rent, making it easier to save money and chip away at debt.
The report sheds light on how the landscape has changed over the years: in 2005, the majority of young adults lived independently in their own households across 35 states; by 2015, that number dwindled to just six states. The burden of student debt undeniably contributes to the delay in marriage. Who wants to tie the knot while drowning in loans that hinder their ability to make big purchases like cars or homes? Moreover, juggling school and work makes raising kids even more difficult, leading many to postpone that chapter of their lives—although life has a way of throwing curveballs, right?
It’s no surprise that people are waiting longer to marry. While 80% of adults were wed by 30 in 1970, that figure has now shifted dramatically to 80% marrying by 45. Some women are choosing not to have children at all, while others are delaying motherhood in favor of pursuing higher education—evidenced by the increase from 17% to 41% of young families holding student debt between 1989 and 2013. Interestingly, only 14% of millennial women aged 25 to 34 are homemakers today, compared to 43% in 1975. The notion of the stay-at-home mom is quickly becoming a relic of the past as more mothers step into the workforce—not just out of necessity but also to pursue the careers they’ve worked hard for.
Ultimately, millennials are simply continuing the legacy of the generations before them, remixing the American Dream to fit today’s realities. While some of us will eventually align more closely with what our parents achieved, we’re doing it on our own terms and in our own time.
For more engaging discussions around marriage, parenthood, and everything in between, check out our other blog posts, such as those on terms and conditions and insights from Make a Mom on at-home insemination kits. Plus, if you’re interested in more resources, Mount Sinai offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, millennials are taking their time with marriage and having children, prioritizing education and financial stability first. This trend reflects a significant cultural shift from previous generations and aligns with the realities of today’s economy.