More American millennials are living with their parents than any of living arrangement, but it doesn’t compare to the statistics for Canadian millennials.
A Pew survey found that 32.1 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds are living in their parents’ home, topping the 31.6 percent who are married or cohabiting in America.
Canadian millennials, however, surpass their American friends at home.
“Data from the 2011 census shows that 59.4 per cent of young adults aged 20 to 24 were living with their parents that year. That was down only 0.2 per cent from 2006, but still higher than in any year going back to 1981. Meanwhile, 25.2 per cent of 25-to-29-year-olds were living with mom and dad in 2011, up from 24.7 per cent five years prior,” Jesse Ferreras wrote for The Huffington Post.
The Canadian data doesn’t exactly mirror Pew’s data, but the 42.3 percent average of 20- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 29-year-olds is higher than the American rate.
Cultural norms persist for some of the disparity, but economic reality pushes it too. The high cost of housing for Canadians weighs even heavier than for Americans.
That’s a general trend in Europe as well, at least for youth unemployment. Young workers across the West have struggled with tight labor markets and weak economies. Canadians and Europeans might avoid the high levels of student debt, but housing costs and unemployment limit their opportunity and independence in meaningful ways.
Employment is decisive in whether young men live at home, and the effect is weaker for young women. Education and ethnicity play a role as well.
All is not economy doom and gloom, however. Delayed marriage could explain some of the gap, too.
“Since 1960 a greater share are living at home and fewer are married or cohabiting and living in their own household,” Pew noted.
American millennials are more cautious about their romantic arrangements and their economic position. Before leaving the nest, they’re shoring up career and life plans. Some parents and pundits might bemoan that as laziness and extended childhood, but Americans aren’t doing too bad when compared to their international peers. And, if it helps them stay in a marriage or a job longer, that could prevent a return to their parents’ basement.
