According to a new Pew Research poll, more than a third of young adults ages 18-31 live with their parents, the highest that figure has been in four decades.
Pew polls since 1968 showed the number of young adults living at home has consistently been about 32%, but in 2012, that number increased.
During the same time period, the number of young adults who are married and live with their spouse has also decreased dramatically.
The poll found the groups most likely to live with their parents were those younger than 25, males and those with some college education. Although most young adults who live with their parents are unemployed or not in the labor force, 29% of employed young adults live with their parents.
Pew pointed to three factors contributing to the increase:
Declining employment. In 2012, 63% of 18- to 31-year-olds had jobs, down from the 70% of their same-aged counterparts who had jobs in 2007. In 2012, unemployed Millennials were much more likely than employed Millennials to be living with their parents (45% versus 29%).
Rising college enrollment. In March 2012, 39% of 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in college, up from 35% in March 2007. Among 18 to 24 year olds, those enrolled in college were much more likely than those not in college to be living at home – 66% versus 50%.
Declining marriage. In 2012 just 25% of Millennials were married, down from the 30% of 18- to 31-year-olds who were married in 2007. Today's unmarried Millennials are much more likely than married Millennials to be living with their parents (47% versus 3%).