Millennials wish they had grown up in their parents’ era, says a think-tank
Written by News on 10/09/2017
One in three millennials would prefer to have grown up in their parents’ era despite technological and social advances, according to new research.
A survey of 2,179 people aged between 16 and 75 found participants were more than twice as likely to say young people today will have a worse standard of life compared with their parents.
Commissioned by the Resolution Foundation, the study showed the biggest concerns for millennials – those born between 1981 and 2000 – were lack of job security, not being able to buy their own home or retire comfortably.
Graduates and high earners were the most pessimistic about the future.
Among those with a degree, 57% believed young people will have a worse standard of life than their parents, while 55% of people earning more than £55,000 per year shared those views.
The figure was still high among those on low incomes, with 44% of people earning £20,000 or less believing the future would be tougher than the past.
Laura Gardiner, senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: "That such an anxiety has taken hold despite decades of economic growth, technological advances and growing social freedoms suggests we have failed to ensure that these gains have fully fed through into young people’s living standards and prospects.
"Of course, cheaper flights and smarter phones are great, but they’re no substitute for a secure income and a home of one’s own."
She said concerns over falling living standards was one of the key factors driving the high turnout of young people in June’s General Election.
(c) Sky News 2017: Millennials wish they had grown up in their parents’ era, says a think-tank
