Polling, economic data and behavioral trends suggest growing skepticism toward long-established pathways to upward mobility.
LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO, June 21 — For decades, the formula for economic success appeared relatively straightforward: earn a degree, secure stable employment, buy a home and gradually build wealth over time.
An increasing number of young adults are no longer convinced that formula works.
New polling, economic research and behavioral data suggest younger generations across several advanced economies are becoming more skeptical about traditional pathways to financial security as housing costs rise, wealth becomes increasingly concentrated and labor-market dynamics evolve.
The shift is particularly visible in the United States.
Gallup data published in 2026 found that only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 believed it was a good time to find a job during 2025, compared with 64% of Americans aged 55 and older. The 21-percentage-point gap was the largest recorded among 141 countries surveyed by Gallup.
The survey also found that optimism among younger Americans fell 27 percentage points between 2023 and 2025.
“It’s an incredibly new phenomenon,” said Benedict Vigers, a research director at Gallup. Comparing the decline with other advanced economies, Vigers added: “Has this happened in most other advanced economies? The answer is a resounding no.”
The findings come as policymakers, employers and educational institutions confront growing evidence that younger adults increasingly question whether education, stable employment and homeownership still provide reliable pathways to upward mobility.
In its report No Home for the Young?, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified housing affordability as one of the most significant barriers facing younger households. The organization described housing as a key driver of economic security and warned that affordability pressures increasingly affect younger generations across member countries.
OECD research published in 2025 found that the wealthiest 10% of young households hold more than 70% of total wealth within their age group in several member countries, highlighting widening disparities in asset ownership among younger adults.
Comparable trends are visible beyond the United States.
Statistics Canada reported that 31.1% of Canadians aged 25 to 29 were living with their parents, compared with 15.7% of Baby Boomers at the same age in 1991. The agency has also documented lower homeownership rates among younger generations relative to earlier cohorts, reflecting affordability pressures in one of the world’s most expensive housing markets.
Economic concerns increasingly overlap with declining confidence in institutions.
Harvard Kennedy School’s Spring 2025 Youth Poll, which surveyed 2,096 Americans aged 18 to 29, found that only 19% trusted the federal government to do the right thing most or all of the time. Trust in Congress stood at 18%, while confidence in the presidency and Supreme Court measured 23% and 29%, respectively.
The World Happiness Report 2025 found that 19% of young adults globally reported having no one they could count on for social support, representing a 39% increase compared with 2006.
Work and education choices are also evolving.
Deloitte’s 2026 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which included more than 22,500 respondents worldwide, found financial insecurity remained among the most frequently cited concerns among younger workers. The survey also reported growing emphasis on flexibility, work-life balance and personal well-being when evaluating career opportunities.
Behavioral data suggest these concerns are increasingly influencing educational decisions.
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported in June 2026 that undergraduate certificate programs recorded the fastest growth among post-secondary credentials. The report also found declining enrollment in several traditional academic pathways, including computer science programs that for years were associated with some of the highest-paying white-collar careers.
A separate survey conducted by Resume Builder found that two in five Generation Z respondents preferred blue-collar occupations over traditional university pathways, citing lower educational costs, faster access to income and perceptions of stronger job security.
Research by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers found that 74% of young respondents believed it was harder for their generation to achieve happiness than it had been for previous generations. Economic challenges were identified as the most frequently cited obstacle.
While 60% of respondents said the traditional concept of the American Dream remained achievable in principle, the same proportion said achieving it personally would be difficult.
Not all indicators point in the same direction.
The Archbridge Institute’s 2025 American Dream Snapshot found that 69% of respondents believed they had either achieved or were on the path toward achieving their own version of the American Dream. However, only 51% believed most Americans could do the same, highlighting a gap between personal expectations and perceptions of broader economic opportunity.
Governments and international organizations are increasingly responding through housing-affordability initiatives, workforce-development programs and vocational-training policies aimed at improving economic mobility.
The question facing policymakers is not simply whether younger generations still believe in traditional definitions of success. It is whether economic institutions can adapt quickly enough to restore confidence that those goals remain realistically attainable.
