Youth clubbed by housing & cost of living
THE cost of living and being able to afford a home are the main worries of Irish young people, a new study by the National Youth Council of Ireland shows.
The research offers an in-depth look at the challenges facing 18 to 29-year-olds, including accommodation difficulties, financial strain, and low mental well-being.
Around one-in-five revealed that they have skipped meals due to cost, according to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) report.
The study, which is published today, also showed half of those in the 18 to 29 age bracket have “low mental well-being”.
Females reported worse mental and financial wellbeing, as well as lower satisfaction with pay and conditions.
The NYCI described the report’s findings as “alarming” and warned that they “should serve as a wake-up call to Government”.
A spokesperson said: “The new report reveals that the most pressing concerns for young people in Ireland are housing and the cost of living, with 67 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively, citing these issues.
“The research offers an in-depth look. It highlights that nearly half (48 per cent) of young people are dissatisfied with their current housing situation.
“And more than half of those with rental or mortgage payments have seen costs rise in the past year.
“Additionally, 44 per cent feel financially worse off than the previous year, and over one in five (22 per cent) have skipped meals due to cost.”
NYCI director of policy Paul Gordon said: “This report’s findings are alarming and should serve as a wake-up call to the Government to address some basic unmet needs for young people.
“Young people’s fear of being worse off than their parents is real, driven by housing challenges and economic precarity.
“More than half live with family, one in two have experienced rent increases in the past year, with some facing rises of up to 30 per cent.