A young protester at a demonstration by France's Yellow Vest movement in March. The protests partially stemmed out of anger over economic inequality in France. (Photo: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
Apr 11, 2019
Millennials are major drivers of world economies, yet the world's wealthiest countries are failing to ensure that people in their 20s and 30s are able to live the comfortable, middle-class lives many of their parents and grandparents enjoyed at the same age.
A report released by the OECD Wednesday shows how slowed or halted income growth as well as the rapidly growing costs of education and housing are keeping young people out of the middle class as they attempt to begin their adult lives, buy homes, and raise families.
"Our analysis delivers a bleak picture and a call for action," said Gabriela Ramos, chief of staff for the OECD, in a statement. "The middle class is at the core of a cohesive, thriving society. We need to address their concerns regarding living costs, fairness, and uncertainty."
\u201cAs the data pile up, it looks less and less like millennials are special snowflakes, and more and more like they're caught up in broader economic forces that are squeezing out the middle class. Today's charts via the @OECD and @graykimbrough https://t.co/LMHw4wl50v\u201d— Jeffrey Sparshott (@Jeffrey Sparshott) 1554986862
The global organization examined its 36 member countries--including the U.S., the U.K., and Mexico--as well as South Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil for its report "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class."
As every generation since the post-World War II baby boom has seen the middle class shrink in wealthy countries around the world, millennials are now being shut out of the middle class, which the OECD defines as incomes between 75 and 200 percent of a country's median household income.
Seventy percent of baby boomers were solidly middle class while in their 20s, compared with only 60 percent of millennials--the generation which the OECD defines as having birth years between 1980 and 2000--are middle class. In the U.S., just 53 percent of millennials are earning enough to be considered part of the middle class.
"The baby boom generation enjoyed more stable jobs during their working life than younger generations as well as well-developed pension systems," the report reads.
While millennials in the U.S. struggle to pay off $1 trillion in student loan debt and young people around the world face housing markets in which they can expect to pay at least a third of their income on a home, the top 10 percent of earners now hold nearly half the wealth in the world's wealthiest countries.
That stark inequality combined with housing costs--which defy the U.S. government's own recommendation to spend no more than 30 percent on housing--have become some of the biggest barriers to millennials hoping to join the middle class.
The OECD also found that over the past three decades, living standards for middle class families have declined considerably, suggesting that households which are considered to be middle class today likely would have been seen as struggling 30 years ago.
The organization called for a robust review of tax and benefit systems as well as "reforms in housing and education systems to make the middle-class lifestyle more accessible."
On social media, some called on the news media to give consideration to the OECD's findings as evidence that millennials are in need of major governmental action to combat the income inequality and rising housing costs which are keeping them from living as comfortably as previous generations have.
\u201cLess quips about avocados and some thinking about the myriad and serious implications of this would be welcome from just about everyone https://t.co/gGUnZRkO1b\u201d— Will Worley (@Will Worley) 1554923200
"Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky waters. Governments must listen to people's concerns and protect and promote middle class living standards," said Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the OECD. "This will help drive economic inclusive and sustainable growth and create a more cohesive and stable social fabric."
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Millennials are major drivers of world economies, yet the world's wealthiest countries are failing to ensure that people in their 20s and 30s are able to live the comfortable, middle-class lives many of their parents and grandparents enjoyed at the same age.
A report released by the OECD Wednesday shows how slowed or halted income growth as well as the rapidly growing costs of education and housing are keeping young people out of the middle class as they attempt to begin their adult lives, buy homes, and raise families.
"Our analysis delivers a bleak picture and a call for action," said Gabriela Ramos, chief of staff for the OECD, in a statement. "The middle class is at the core of a cohesive, thriving society. We need to address their concerns regarding living costs, fairness, and uncertainty."
\u201cAs the data pile up, it looks less and less like millennials are special snowflakes, and more and more like they're caught up in broader economic forces that are squeezing out the middle class. Today's charts via the @OECD and @graykimbrough https://t.co/LMHw4wl50v\u201d— Jeffrey Sparshott (@Jeffrey Sparshott) 1554986862
The global organization examined its 36 member countries--including the U.S., the U.K., and Mexico--as well as South Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil for its report "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class."
As every generation since the post-World War II baby boom has seen the middle class shrink in wealthy countries around the world, millennials are now being shut out of the middle class, which the OECD defines as incomes between 75 and 200 percent of a country's median household income.
Seventy percent of baby boomers were solidly middle class while in their 20s, compared with only 60 percent of millennials--the generation which the OECD defines as having birth years between 1980 and 2000--are middle class. In the U.S., just 53 percent of millennials are earning enough to be considered part of the middle class.
"The baby boom generation enjoyed more stable jobs during their working life than younger generations as well as well-developed pension systems," the report reads.
While millennials in the U.S. struggle to pay off $1 trillion in student loan debt and young people around the world face housing markets in which they can expect to pay at least a third of their income on a home, the top 10 percent of earners now hold nearly half the wealth in the world's wealthiest countries.
That stark inequality combined with housing costs--which defy the U.S. government's own recommendation to spend no more than 30 percent on housing--have become some of the biggest barriers to millennials hoping to join the middle class.
The OECD also found that over the past three decades, living standards for middle class families have declined considerably, suggesting that households which are considered to be middle class today likely would have been seen as struggling 30 years ago.
The organization called for a robust review of tax and benefit systems as well as "reforms in housing and education systems to make the middle-class lifestyle more accessible."
On social media, some called on the news media to give consideration to the OECD's findings as evidence that millennials are in need of major governmental action to combat the income inequality and rising housing costs which are keeping them from living as comfortably as previous generations have.
\u201cLess quips about avocados and some thinking about the myriad and serious implications of this would be welcome from just about everyone https://t.co/gGUnZRkO1b\u201d— Will Worley (@Will Worley) 1554923200
"Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky waters. Governments must listen to people's concerns and protect and promote middle class living standards," said Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the OECD. "This will help drive economic inclusive and sustainable growth and create a more cohesive and stable social fabric."
Millennials are major drivers of world economies, yet the world's wealthiest countries are failing to ensure that people in their 20s and 30s are able to live the comfortable, middle-class lives many of their parents and grandparents enjoyed at the same age.
A report released by the OECD Wednesday shows how slowed or halted income growth as well as the rapidly growing costs of education and housing are keeping young people out of the middle class as they attempt to begin their adult lives, buy homes, and raise families.
"Our analysis delivers a bleak picture and a call for action," said Gabriela Ramos, chief of staff for the OECD, in a statement. "The middle class is at the core of a cohesive, thriving society. We need to address their concerns regarding living costs, fairness, and uncertainty."
\u201cAs the data pile up, it looks less and less like millennials are special snowflakes, and more and more like they're caught up in broader economic forces that are squeezing out the middle class. Today's charts via the @OECD and @graykimbrough https://t.co/LMHw4wl50v\u201d— Jeffrey Sparshott (@Jeffrey Sparshott) 1554986862
The global organization examined its 36 member countries--including the U.S., the U.K., and Mexico--as well as South Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil for its report "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class."
As every generation since the post-World War II baby boom has seen the middle class shrink in wealthy countries around the world, millennials are now being shut out of the middle class, which the OECD defines as incomes between 75 and 200 percent of a country's median household income.
Seventy percent of baby boomers were solidly middle class while in their 20s, compared with only 60 percent of millennials--the generation which the OECD defines as having birth years between 1980 and 2000--are middle class. In the U.S., just 53 percent of millennials are earning enough to be considered part of the middle class.
"The baby boom generation enjoyed more stable jobs during their working life than younger generations as well as well-developed pension systems," the report reads.
While millennials in the U.S. struggle to pay off $1 trillion in student loan debt and young people around the world face housing markets in which they can expect to pay at least a third of their income on a home, the top 10 percent of earners now hold nearly half the wealth in the world's wealthiest countries.
That stark inequality combined with housing costs--which defy the U.S. government's own recommendation to spend no more than 30 percent on housing--have become some of the biggest barriers to millennials hoping to join the middle class.
The OECD also found that over the past three decades, living standards for middle class families have declined considerably, suggesting that households which are considered to be middle class today likely would have been seen as struggling 30 years ago.
The organization called for a robust review of tax and benefit systems as well as "reforms in housing and education systems to make the middle-class lifestyle more accessible."
On social media, some called on the news media to give consideration to the OECD's findings as evidence that millennials are in need of major governmental action to combat the income inequality and rising housing costs which are keeping them from living as comfortably as previous generations have.
\u201cLess quips about avocados and some thinking about the myriad and serious implications of this would be welcome from just about everyone https://t.co/gGUnZRkO1b\u201d— Will Worley (@Will Worley) 1554923200
"Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky waters. Governments must listen to people's concerns and protect and promote middle class living standards," said Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the OECD. "This will help drive economic inclusive and sustainable growth and create a more cohesive and stable social fabric."
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