Why So Few Babies? We Might Have Overlooked the Biggest Reason of All

[ancianita]

13. I think AI is in the background, being used for jobs humans used to do, men included. Though AI will never surpass human

judgment, it's still out there in the background, corporations using it and laying off thousands; Silicon Valley layoffs are in media while other layoffs aren't. But it's happening.

Back in the day I struggled for 18 years to raise a child and live within my means on one income.

These days I'm not so sure it would be different.

Data show that nationally, about 33% of young adults (ages 18–34) still live with their parents, and this figure jumps to nearly 50% for those aged 18–29. Among slightly older young adults (ages 25–34), about 18% reside at home, a figure that reflects a persistent affordability squeeze driven by record-high rent prices and tough housing markets.

When it comes to higher cost of living states, experts emphasize that for many young Americans, moving back home or staying at home is increasingly viewed as a deliberate financial survival and wealth-building strategy rather than a failure to launch. Skill building that won't be taken over by AI is now an ongoing major consideration.