The boomerang generation

Are you part of the ‘boomerang generation’?

LSE has published research on the impact on family relationships of young adults returning to the parental home after graduating from university.  But what are the facts about the nature and extent of this ‘boomerang’ trend?

• The Office for National Statistics recorded a 26% rise in the number of 20-34 year olds living with their parents from 1996-2013. This  has been mirrored  in USA census data.
• In a 2011 article Anne Berrington and Jane Falkingham considered the causes of the changing nature of young UK adults living arrangements. They highlighted key factors as increasing economic uncertainty and the impact of the expansion of higher education.
• In 2014, Shelter referred to the ‘clipped wing generation’ whose ‘main reason’ for returning home was lack of affordable housing. Their online policy library has further examples of related research.
• The Chartered Institute of Housing has also recently referred to ‘young people’ as suffering from a ‘broken housing market.’
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation has many recent reports on the social impact of housing affordability.
• For a more positive viewpoint on the benefits of returning home see some Pew Social Research