Median Wealth for Americans Under 40 Hits Record High

Despite historic gains in wealth, young Americans face mounting economic challenges, including rising debt and stagnant wages for less-educated workers.

• The median wealth for Americans aged 25-39 reached $80,500 in 2022, a significant increase from $23,750 in 2010, according to a Treasury Department report.
• The sharp rise in wealth, particularly from 2019 to 2022, was attributed to economic recovery measures and a strong post-pandemic market, benefiting diverse demographic groups.
• However, young Americans face growing economic pressures, including skyrocketing student debt, rising costs of housing, childcare, and healthcare, and stagnant wages for men without college degrees.
• The report highlights declining labor force participation among young men, with fewer employed today than in 1990, and notes that many young adults delay household formation due to financial burdens.
• The Treasury recommends addressing these challenges through investments in affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, and workforce development, tailored to the unique difficulties faced by this generation.

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