11-12-2024
The Aspen Economic Strategy Group (AESG) has released social and economic data on young American men. Men aged 25 to 34 aren't taking part in the workforce like they did twenty years ago. In 2004, this age group had a 92.4 percent participation rate. That number has declined to 88.8% as of August 2024. This reduction means that over 700,000 fewer men are working. By contrast, women in the same age group have increased their workforce presence from 72.8% to 78.5%.
This downward trend accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the number of men attending college dropped during the pandemic. In 2021, 55 percent of male high school graduates went to college, compared to 62% in 2019. Women have stayed consistent at 70% college enrollment during and after the pandemic.
A concerning consequence of young men not working is that they are more lonely. According to AESG's data, men spend about 6.6 hours a day alone compared to women, who spend about 5.4 hours. Men became more lonely during the pandemic, and it has not changed much since. The researchers point out that increased isolation means less access to social networks, resulting in weaker opportunities for labor participation. The American Institute for Boys and Men told the Wall Street Journal that the pandemic disproportionately impacted men because they rely on face-to-face interactions for their relationships and have a more difficult time rebounding from loneliness. The report noted that even young men living at home spend a lot of time alone. One young man interviewed for the Wall Street Journal said he "felt so, so lost" and dropped out of college during the pandemic. He wants to go back but cannot find the motivation.