Fresh From College, More Grads Moving Back Home

Whether they're saving money for their own place, trying to decide what to do with their lives or waiting for the job market to turn, more college graduates are finding themselves where they began -- at home with their parents.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

A survey of last year's college graduation class showed that 80 percent moved back home after getting their diplomas, up significantly from the 63 percent in 2006. The CollegeGrad.com survey of 2,000 young people showed that seven in 10 said they would live at home until they found a job.

Now, as another class of graduates -- the 2010s -- move into the job market, "the economy is still rough. ... a good number are still searching" from the class of 2009, said Guy Davis, director of the career center at Towson University. He said only about 20 percent had jobs lined up at graduation, with "a fair number" looking at graduate school.

Recent Hampton University graduate Greer Dorsey told the Sun that the return to her mother's abode didn't have a stigma attached to it, as many of her friends were in similar positions. She also said living at home made job searching "less stressful." Other grads touted the comforts of home as perks of the arrangement.

But Brookings Institution senior fellow Gary Burtless said that the trend could have adverse effects on young graduates, mainly that they'll be less likely to struggle and take risks in the future.

What's your take? If you've just graduated, where are you living? Weigh in below.

Comments

[09Grad]

06:22 PM on 06/27/2010

I used to swear that I would never move back home with my parents after graduation. When I saw on the news stories about people moving home, I wondered what the h*** was wrong with them. Then, I graduated in May 09 with a MS in engineering. I didn't have a job lined up after graduation, so when my apartment lease ran out in July 09, I moved home with my parents. Almost a year later, I still have yet to find a "real engineering job", although I have had some part time temp jobs. Compared to my dad, when he was my age and inflation adjusted, I am not making that much less than he did with a BS in business. However, he had a professional position with an upward career track and with a government job, rock solid job security.

[Cameleon113]

07:47 PM on 06/25/2010

Asking a student what is your major. Ie. My Major is _______ that is where the MONEY is. Or the answer would be I have not chosen a major yet. Then I'd ask how long have you been attending here. They would say 3 and sometimes 4 years. Now they are stuck with debt, and even if they graduated they probably didn't learn anything, simpy cause they tried to get a degree so that they could earn a large salary, but they didn't learn a thing. Now they are back home with mom and dad. Sad.

To add to this the younger generation of students have preprogramed answers for you also. This pertains to elementary, Junior High and High school students.

If you approach any of the three and ask them the simplest question, that is on their grade level, and they cannot answer it. The reply is "We have not gotten that far yet". I mean it has happen to me so many times it, seems that they have been trained to say that.

All through my education process and from my mom. I was taught to say simply "I don't know".

The We haven't gotten there thingy, is an excuse that the BROKEN EDUCATION system has provided them with. Because of its inadequence. Again, a sad situation, and every citizen in this country is gonna suffer for it Rich as well as the middle class and the poor.

Burgess Dillard

06/26/2010

[Senseid]

04:03 AM on 06/23/2010

What do you expect when the job market sucks and students are mortgages their lives with student debt? Even with an average starting salary job, it would seem very difficult to be able to juggle student debt payments, rent, utilities, food, car, insurance, personal stuff, etc. And even if you can get by, chances are you are leaving yourself with hardly any savings to put toward a house or retirement.

It is a hostile time to be a young graduate.

[Scarlet57]

05:41 AM on 06/22/2010

I honestly don't see what's wrong with sharing a house with family...Just because we live together doesn't mean we have the same relationship we had when the kids were younger...We help each other out - it goes both ways. I figure my newly graduated son is here now...we enjoy the time together while he prepares his next move...he helps out here...when he finds a job then he does something else. My house is also open to my mom - I find intergenerational living to make sense...It's called cooperation and love - there's nothing wrong with that.

[alongch]

04:39 AM on 06/22/2010

I'm a recent graduate from California, finished in four years right out of high school with a full ride. No luck finding a job and I've been on the hunt since April. The majority of my friends have moved back home to spare the cost of rent. It is a strange time.

[aghostinthemachine]

08:35 AM on 06/22/2010

Don't feel bad, I read in Italy that "kids" stay home until their late 30's, some even later.

[kbella]

12:55 PM on 06/22/2010

Truth. I live in Italy. My husband is 29, and he is one of very few people his age (that I know of) living outside of a parent's house. I even have an American friend married to an Italian (who is also 29), and they actually still live with his parents. It's really weird...

[UNLVGOP]

04:08 AM on 06/22/2010

There's no way I'd ever consider moving back home. Luckily, living in Vegas is very cheap. Earning $10 an hour and renting my own apartment, I'm able to pay all of my bills including buying health insurance. It's also nice when the state doesn't take any of my paycheck!

[ClarenceWorley]

12:47 AM on 06/22/2010

I just graduated recently, no luck finding a job yet, and yes, I'm back living with the folks now.. After four years of freedom it's a big adjustment moving back home.. I need to leave here as soon as possible, I may start selling crack soon.. As for my major, I picked anthropology because I liked Indiana Jones, and now I'm screwed..

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

12:02 AM on 06/22/2010

Its not cheap living with 5 strangers in a illegal apartment in Williamsburgh Brooklyn, I fought about doing school in NYC or Boston then I came to realize I'm get the same education in the Midwest w/o paying thru the nose just to survive. Yes I'll miss the public transit, the arts, the speakers from Newt to Amy Goodman and the food but this is why they invented a thing called Airplanes and Interstates... most these kids aim too freaking high when they get out of college, just because you got a degree don't make the world easer, like just because you survived MCRD Parris Island (or MCRD San Diego) don't make Marine life easer, you have a image to maintain and a mission to carry out beyond the yellow footprints... I'm just saying

[am10]

11:56 PM on 06/21/2010

Living at home after college. Been there, done that. Lose your mind yet save your money. My only advice is if living with your (controlling) parents affects your decisions, do whatever you have to do to get out of the house.

[DSevere]

11:37 PM on 06/21/2010

I swore I would never say "what's wrong with this younger generation," but -- geez! I left home when I was 18, paid for my own college while working and supporting myself in NYC, never lived at home again. (Of course, not getting along with my mother had something to do with this.)

And while that was really rough going some times, it gave me resilience and survivor instinct that I think some of these live-at-home grads are never going to acquire. And then there will be some horrible crisis in their lives, and they won't be able to cope.

[am10]

11:53 PM on 06/21/2010

Unfortunately, you are a rarity these days. I was lucky my parents covered most of my education. But the kids I knew putting themselves through college were most appreciative of their education and very driven.

[alongch]

04:30 AM on 06/22/2010

You must have graduated awhile ago.

I think that currently dealing with unemployment is a crisis and managing the stress may turn out to be a lesson in and of itself.

[cranky liberal909]

10:38 PM on 06/21/2010

Back when I graduated from college with few serious job prospects in an economy that was nowhere near as bad as this one, I was fortunate enough to have my parents as a security blanket. Their incredible patience plus A LOT of graduate school eventually paid off. I don't know if today's grads can benefit from something similar, as the sector that I found is also changing rapidly. There will be far fewer jobs in it for the coming generations.

[Harrier]

12:15 AM on 06/22/2010

In my day, nobody returned home after college. I was different. I stayed at home during college and after because I couldn't afford it and didn't see a point and because the economy was tough. I also got a nearby job. I was the only person I know of who graduated with $50K in his bank account. I was fortunate and had wonderful parents. I purchased a few years after college, a mile away from my parents. I'm thankful I did it. In a years or two, I will pay it off 10 years ahead. In the few years I stayed with my parents, I got to know them in ways I never knew and learned from the mistakes they told me they made.

A lot has change. Just like the UK. The US began letting it's manufacturing base go. And when Greenspan kept saying it was fine that something else would take its place, but couldn't tell anyone what it would be, that's when I knew we are going to be just like England. Now we've give away our crown jewels. All of our best manufacturing is gone like the wind. When Manufacturing left, everyone began fighting for government and tax payer money. Easiest way to go. Earning money the old fashion way was too hard.

I saw it coming, paid my dues and made my fortune. Most of the money I made was by following the corruption and pulling out before the big boys pulled the plug.

[cranky liberal909]

12:21 AM on 06/22/2010

Having wonderful parents, plus, of course a bit of good luck, really does make a lot of difference.

[zakwouldhave]

10:22 PM on 06/21/2010

I would recomend making a huge effort to get along with your family because this scenario is here to stay. The only positive I see out of this new economic reality is that possibly families will stay closer, mostly out of necessity, and hopefully this results in helping out the ones close to us more.
Trust me I am not saying to spoil anyone (I've seen that damage) or let anyone become dependent on anyone else. That won't be possible anyways because we won't have the $$ to spoil them! I am sayng we can (and will have to) share in the experience more of obtaining what we need out of life with family and friends support.

[Justamailman]

09:24 PM on 06/21/2010

I remember reading a study in the early eighties that said America was going to have a shortage of labor in the coming years. I guess the trickle down revolution solved that one with outsourcing, shipping most of our manufacturing to China and letting our borders become a sieve. Why didn't our political leaders protect the American People? MONEY,MONEY,MONEY

[500 a]

09:07 PM on 06/21/2010

Families need to really consider the wisdom in accruing debt for college. Many students don't understand that a degree may not mean that you have the job skills that hiring managers want. I hate to say it, but I think we've oversold the value of a general college education. We simply do not have white collar or professional jobs for all these young people. A few college majors lead to greater success in the job hunt (engineering, nursing, computer science, accounting). But most undergraduate degrees awarded are in arts, humanities, other areas. The chances of landing a good job to pay back the student loans are slim. Many families will take in their students and help them along. I expect it is going to be a long road to economic recovery. Staying busy is the key and keep looking.

[cranky liberal909]

10:45 PM on 06/21/2010

As someone who found a steady job in the liberal arts, I nonetheless unfortunately have to agree. These stories of crushing debt are really depressing. And it is even worse to read the story of a student who took on 50-100k (or more) in debt just to enjoy what was probably a wonderful education in some sort of interdisciplinary liberal arts/humanities. While I enjoy my field, studying it is not worth a lifetime of crushing debt, being unable to settle down, marry, buy a house, etc...

[Justamailman]

09:05 PM on 06/21/2010

I know this is a fantasy but, whatever happened to education for education's sake? An educated society hopefully, will be more likely to remain free. I can dream can't I?

[cranky liberal909]

10:48 PM on 06/21/2010

I love my field, I love the liberal arts and humanities, and am a strong supporter of studying these subjects. Nonetheless are you reading these stories of students, who have taken on six figures of debt in a field that really won't pay for itself? Unless a miracle happens, many of them won't be able to easily settle down, afford that first mortgage, and enjoy some sort of middle-class lifestyle.