The main difference is the age at which young people get a permanent job. In 2008, half of all 24-year-olds already had a permanent contract. Today that age has risen to 27. According to the CBS, this is mainly related to the flexibilisation of the labour market, with employers being less keen to distribute permanent contracts.
Living with their parents
Young people also start working later, because they study for longer. The age at which the majority complete their studies has gone up from 23 to 24. More students are also in higher professional (hbo) education or at university, which extends their study time.
These young people are then more likely to live with their parents for longer. Ten years ago, half of young people left home at the age of 22, compared with 23 today. According to a previous CBS study, this is related to the introduction of the student loan system in 2015.
Own home
Of those who have left the parental home, around half have bought a house by the age of 28. That’s two years later than in 2008. “Without a regular income, it’s more difficult to get a mortgage, but mortgage rules have also become stricter and house prices have risen fast,” the CBS explains in its report.
Living together, getting married and having children are also life events that young people in their twenties are undertaking later. Most of them live together with a partner at the age of 28, either married or not. Ten years ago, they would have been 27. Young people tend not to get married so quickly. Between 2008 and 2018, the average age of young people embarking on their first marriage rose from 30 to 31.5 for women and from 32.8 to 33.9 for men. Women have children later, because they often want to complete their postgraduate studies first.
