The numbers are clear, and both surprising and not so much: young men and women in America are on different paths. More women aged 25 to 34 are entering the workforce than ever before, while young men seem to be treading water. Over the past decade, the share of young men in the labor market hasn’t grown. In fact, men in this age group are twice as likely as women to live with their parents, and more are neither employed nor enrolled in school or training programs.
But these statistics don’t capture the personal stories behind them. Take Dan and Joana Moreno, for example. Their daughter recently graduated from business school and got engaged, while their three adult sons are still living at home. Dan admits, "We love them, but that’s not how you build a life."
Then there’s Ronan Convery, a 21-year-old whose college experience was derailed by too much partying. His post-pandemic return to campus was more about socializing than studying. “I didn’t actually spend the time to think, ‘Hey, are these people I’m hanging out with good people?’” he says.
So, what’s going on? Experts point to several factors. Gender roles are shifting, and the traditional single-earner family structure is disappearing. Meanwhile, industries that typically employed young men, like manufacturing, have been in decline. According to Richard V. Reeves of the American Institute for Boys and Men, many young men are feeling uncertain about their place in society, unsure if they’re needed by their families or communities. As family formation fades, or is at least delayed, young men are left adrift. I know I certainly felt that way.
If we want a happy, healthy society, both sexes need to feel they have a place in it. I understand, on some level, the overcorrection of recent decades. For much of American history, women were largely excluded from the workforce. But I believe there’s a future where men and women alike can feel they have the same range of options without one dominating the other.
The question I have for you all is, what can be done to help young men find their footing again? How would you approach it? Or should we worry about this at all? Let me know in the comments, and if you enjoy my work, support me at jamesbrowntv.substack.com.
On that note, I’m James Brown, and as always, be well.
America’s Young Men Are Falling Even Further Behind
Men in their 20s and early 30s are much more likely than female peers to live with their parents, and many say they feel aimless and isolated
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/young-american-men-lost-c1d799f7?mod=jobs_news_article_pos1
Share this post