Youth in transition: 60 % life of family or state aid in 2023

economic dependence on young people in Germany

Wiesbaden (ots)

In 2023, over 60 % of 15- to 24-year-olds live financially from the support of their family or government services in Germany. This condition not only reflects individual challenges, but also throws a light on deeper social and economic trends.

demographic changes and their consequences

The proportion of young people in the total population has achieved historically low values. At the end of 2023 there were only 10.1 % of the population between 15 and 24 years. This development shows that the age group not only shrinks, but also that the needs and challenges of young people now have to be viewed from a different perspective. In particular, the immigration of young people contributed to the stabilization of this group through the war in Ukraine.

an increase in financial dependency

The vast majority of young adults are still dependent on financial support. In the 18- to 24-year-olds, the proportion of people dependent on family income fell to 35 %, while more than half (51 %) already earned a large part of their livelihood through their own work.

Youthlessness and training opportunities

Fortunately, youth unemployment is 5.9 % at a lowest level since 2019. Germany continues to have the lowest rates within the European Union. This is also thanks to the dual training system that integrates many young people into the labor market. Despite this positive development, 7.5 % of 15 to 24 year olds remain outside of educational offers or employment.

historical perspective

A look back shows that the proportion of young people who make a living independently has dropped from 47 % to 39 % in the past 30 years. Beyond these figures, the question is to contribute to the extent to which social changes - such as the higher educational claim or the increase in training positions - contribute to this dependency.

conclusion: Common challenges of the future

The data from the microcensus 2023 make it clear that economic uncertainty and dependency are a growing topic for young people. In order to be able to meet future challenges, comprehensive political measures are necessary to focus on enabling young people more autonomy. This includes investments in education and the promotion of training positions and jobs that are crucial for starting their professional life.

The microcensus not only serves as a statistical instrument, but as an important indication of how the living conditions of young people in Germany have to change and what urgently needs to be reinvested in order to improve the perspectives of our young generation.