There is movement sweeping young people today. We’re not talking about any of the things you are probably thinking of: no drugs, alcoholism, criminal behavior, etc. Instead, we’re talking about the DINK movement. DINK stands for Dual-Income No Kids. This has been a lifestyle that has been growing in popularity over the decades, but recent studies show it is even more popular with Gen-Z. A growing trend amongst Gen Zers is the delay of children or choosing to remain childfree. There are a number of factors that contribute to this: career-focused partners, childcare limitations, and lack of a strong financial footing.
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Career-Focused Partners
One of the factors negatively impacting Gen Zers’ desire to have children is both parties being focused on their careers. Both partners have found joy in their careers and intend to remain in these careers for the long-term. This can lead to longer hours at work, less days off, or continuing to work on professional projects while in the home.
An article on Qureos said, “According to a recent Nielsen study, about 54% of Gen Z want to start their own company”. Starting your own company takes a lot of time, money, and effort. Often in couples, this requires one partner to support the other while getting the new business off the ground. If the business succeeds, both partners are in a good position, but if the business does not succeed, this leaves the couple in a worse financial situation. This all leads to less time and resources to devote to having children.
Childcare Limitations
In an article for Business Insider, a Gen Zer family was interviewed regarding their decision to focus on their careers and to remain child-free. A key factor in their decision was the lack of time to spend with the children.
Many parents choose to utilize daycare. Daycares can be a great tool for parents when owned and operated correctly. Many daycares have come under fire in news reports for low employee wages which can have a negative effect on proper care of the children.
Gen Zers prioritize mental health. The increased acceptability of mental health related issues and processing childhood related traumas causes many in this generation to think carefully and thoughtfully about having children. When both parties are focused on their careers, the children may not develop a close relationship with their parents due to a lack of time spent together. This generation’s emphasis on mental health leads to a stronger consideration for how their actions will impact those around them.
Lack Of A Strong Financial Footing
Research conducted by McKinsey & Company determined that “only 41% of Gen Zers expect to own a home one day”. Being financially stable is something we all aspire towards but is something that can be very complicated. Many generations are used to having to go into an office to find someone to manage your money properly because finances seemed too confusing to try to manage on your own. Newer technology has made investments more accessible through apps like Robinhood and WeBull that allow you to make and manage your investments all in the palm of your hand. This could be a big contribution to Gen Zers increased financial interest and prioritization of financial prudence. Investopedia’s 2022 study reported that “54% of Gen Z hold some kind of investment, ranging from mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs)”.
Conclusion
Kids are an investment. They will take up time and resources. Children will take your focus away from your career. Concern over their well-being will affect childcare choices. A strong financial footing is a necessary part of giving yourself the life you have always wanted. Again, kids are a big investment, and Gen Zers are deciding that they have a poor ROI.
