The Real Reasons Millennials Are Struggling [Infographic]

For older generations that are set in their ways, it can be hard to accept why millennials are delaying parenthood, staying at home and in school longer, and it’s easy to write off these behaviors as irresponsible. There is a bigger picture though.

The truth is millennials are faced with nuanced challenges that aren’t always obvious from the outside looking in and today’s priorities aren’t the same as they were 50 years ago. In the past 15 years, student loan debt nationwide has spiked and hit the threshold of over $1 trillion. College grads spent years in school earning their degree and many expect it will take decades to finish paying back those loans. This collective early life debt has made millennials a caution generation, with many opting to put off starting a family until they feel financially secure. From there they are faced with a job market that is not in line with their values and continually rising housing costs, preventing them from going the same way as their parents and grandparents.

Millennials are overcoming their unique challenges with creativity, ingenuity, and little regard to the older generations that mock them. Take a look at this infographic for a deeper look into the lives of millennials, how they balance their priorities, and how its pushing society in the right direction