Young people in their 20s face toughest start to adulthood in 50 years, BBC analysis finds
A BBC analysis reveals that young people in their 20s are experiencing the most difficult transition to adulthood in five decades, driven by housing affordability and employment challenges.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Young people in their 20s face toughest start to adulthood in 50 years, BBC analysis finds
New analysis carried out for the BBC shows that people in their 20s are facing a tougher start to adulthood than any generation in almost half a century. The research, which looked at data covering housing, employment and wealth, found that the combination of these factors has made it harder for young people to get a job or a home of their own.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) contributed to the research, and figures from the Office for National Statistics show that many of life's big moments, such as moving in with a partner or having children, have shifted by at least five years for Gen Z compared with their parents or grandparents.
Home ownership has fallen sharply. In the 1980s, 43% of 25-year-olds owned their own home. That figure now stands at just 15%. The report also highlights that mental health diagnoses are on the rise for 20-somethings.
Young people interviewed for the report spoke of feeling insecure and failing to meet expectations. One said: "You have an idea in your head of how your life is going to look. You're going to get a job, maybe by 25 you're going to get married, but reality proves itself to be quite difficult." Another described a "ticking time bomb" in their head, comparing themselves to their parents at the same age.
Professor Sarah Hall, who has studied the impact of economic shocks on this generation, said: "It really is about not feeling in control of your own life and of your own destiny. To feel so directionless is where that lack of hope comes from for a lot of young people." She argued that the problem is societal, not individual: "They feel guilty, they feel responsible, that they have not met these particular milestones. But actually, it's something that is a societal issue. It's our responsibility as a society, an economy and with our state to make sure that young people are better supported."
The report also heard from Adam's dad, who said there was more hope and support when he was growing up, with the space race and technological advances creating a positive environment. He said: "It's like you're having to wait longer to get everything that everyone had ten years prior. It's not great."
One young woman, Steph Dawson, 28, told the BBC she had moved out and back in with her mother several times. She said she thought she would have her own house and maybe a first child by now. She called for government action on affordable housing, raising the income tax threshold and reducing transport costs.
The report concludes that there is a "monumental shift" happening in the lives of those entering the workforce, and that this matters to everyone because what happens to 20-somethings shapes the households, families and economy of the future.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z are reaching life milestones like buying a home, getting married, and having children at least five years later than previous generations. | ||
| Institute for Fiscal Studies research indicates that people in their 20s face difficulties in finding employment and owning a home. | ||
| Mental health diagnoses are rising for people in their twenties. | ||
| Home ownership among 25-year-olds fell from 43% in the 1980s to 15% currently. | · | |
| Many parents are providing financial support to their adult children, including rent payments. | · | |
| Young people feel a lack of control and directionlessness due to economic shocks. | · | |
| Young people in their 20s are facing the toughest start to adulthood in nearly 50 years. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This broadcast presented the report as a major news item, with a focus on the emotional toll on young people and the societal responsibility. It included the full package from Caletta Smith, with multiple personal stories and expert analysis. The channel also led with other news before the report, but the report itself was given significant time.
- “You have an idea in your head of how your life is going to look. You're going to get a job, maybe by 25 you're going to get married, but reality proves itself to be quite difficult.”
- “They feel guilty, they feel responsible, that they have not met these particular milestones. But actually, it's something that is a societal issue.”
This regional broadcast carried the same national report, but with a local news lead-in and a different outro. The focus remained on the human stories and the impact on families, with no additional local angle. The tone was similar to the national version, but the channel's identity as a regional programme meant it was presented as part of a broader news bulletin.
- “Over the last few days We've been following a number of people in their 20s as research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies Shows how tough it is for them to get a job or a home of their own”
- “There's a monumental shift happening in the lives and possibilities of those entering the workforce now”
This broadcast focused on the data and the personal interview. It presented the analysis as a new finding, with Coletta Smith explaining the research in a studio interview. The channel gave specific statistics on home ownership and included a live guest, Steph Dawson, to provide a personal perspective. The tone was more analytical and conversational.
- “Home ownership has fallen off a cliff over the last three decades, from 43% in the 1980s of 25-year-olds owning their own home to just 15% of 25-year-olds now owning their own home.”
- “I think the government can do things like affordable housing. I think raising, I know it's frozen until 2031, but raising the tax income threshold and also reducing transport costs.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.