Boomerang Kids on the Rise

1556 Words4 Pages

A boomerang is an Aboriginal Australian weapon, shaped like a wide and rounded 'V', that was originally used for hunting. Over the years it has shifted from being a sharp tool to a plastic toy. It is similar to a single player version of Frisbee, except that when you throw a boomerang it hovers around and then returns to the place where it was thrown from. Aptly named, the 'boomerang kids' are young adults that, after leaving home for a few years, return home to live with their parents, just like a boomerang. The boomerangers include people from twenty-four to thirty-five years old, and most are fresh out of college with their newly earned degrees.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there were about 4.6 million of these boomerang kids. This is about 40% of all people aged 24 to 35 who are living with their parents in the U.S. (Lank). The biggest increase in boomerangers, is among college students. A study done by collegegrad.com shows that in 2006 about 67% of all college graduates returned home. This is a huge portion of the college graduate population, but in 2009, that percentage rose to about 80% of all graduates (Zappe). This number has not only increased, but is expected to continue to increase at a significant rate. But why are so many young adults flocking back to their parents home not long after they have finally gotten their freedom?

Many do not have much of a choice. With the nation pulling itself out of a recession, prices are soaring, debt is piling up and jobs are harder to come by. In an interview done by the National Public Radio, they discuss college tuition with College Board's senior policy analyst Sandy Baum, who is the co-author of the 2008 report "Trends in College Pricing”. Baum, says that college t...

... middle of paper ...

.../empsit/cpseed16.pdf

This source is a chart with statistics directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding unemployment rates in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 It separates the population by age, sex, race and ethnicity. This information is geared towards people looking for precise numbers and statistics because it give the data but does not explain the numbers to the readers.

Zappe, John. "Facing Tough Job Market, New Grads Accepting More Offers, Lower Salaries." ERE.net. The Journal of Corporate Recruiting Leadership, 02 June 2010. Web. 06 Apr. 2011.

This article tells the readers about some of the challenges of getting a job that college students and graduates face due to the economy. It gives detailed statistics and ties them into the topic. It mentions a collegegrad.com survey that gives the percentage of students that moved back home after graduating.

Open Document