Unlike their parents, Millennials are getting married later and maybe even staying married longer. Why?
Millennials are a demographic group with members generally considered to have been born between 1981 and 1996, with spillover to births in 2000. The women and men of this cohort have brought significant change to the labor market and economy with their lifestyle choices and values. Similarly, Millennials look at marriage differently than preceding generations.
Before the Baby Boomers was the “Silent Generation.” Like their own parents, the Silent Generation looked more at marriage as an economic agreement, the business of life. Marriages were made early and divorce was discouraged.
While the Baby Boomers also pursued early marriage, they also divorced, remarried, and divorced. According to studies, the Baby Boomers continue to drive divorce rates, a trend now termed, “grey divorce.”
But the Millennial generation is altogether different. According to data from the World Economic Forum (WEF), the rate of divorce in the United States began to drop in the mid-1990’s.
Today, the divorce rate is less than 50 percent for couples in the US who marry in their late 20’s. Here are some differences between Millennials and their earlier counterparts:
- Personal goals: Millennials are waiting longer to marry. While Baby Boomers married early, regardless of their life circumstance, Millennials are in no hurry. Priorities include finishing an education or reaching for graduate education. Working to establish a career and financial security before marriage is a priority.
- Living together: That doesn’t mean Millennials are not falling in love. Instead of marriage, more Millennials are choosing to live together. The option is boosting the rate in cohabitating couples. Partners living together buy homes and raise families without the walk down the aisle.
- Economics is a driver: Even as Millennials wait longer to get married, the choice to tie the knot is made more frequently by more affluent, educated individuals. Millennials who have less education and less financial stability are less likely to marry and are choosing more often to live together.
These statistics reveal general trends. There are outliers in every generation. Some couples marry early, or late, for reasons all their own. Still, by waiting longer and taking a hard look at personal needs and economic concerns, Millennials are generally crafting a more stable view of relationship—both inside and outside of marriage.
Speak with an experienced Baltimore divorce attorney
When you need knowledgeable answers and experienced legal guidance during separation or divorce in Maryland, we can help. The Law Offices of Allyson B. Goldscher, LLC serves individuals and families in Baltimore and Baltimore County. Contact us when you have questions about divorce, or call 410-602-9522 to get the answers you need.
