Boomers made choices that shaped the economy, but younger generations are footing the bill.
Younger generations aren’t just complaining for the sake of it—they’re grappling with the fallout of decades of decisions made long before they had a vote, a job, or a say. Gen Z and Millennials are entering adulthood with fewer opportunities, higher costs, and a shrinking sense of stability. It’s not just bad luck or laziness—it’s structural. And a lot of that structure was built during the Boomer era.
This isn’t about assigning all the blame to one generation, but it’s impossible to ignore how policy, market trends, and societal values shifted during the decades Boomers came of age. Those changes, intentional or not, are now shaping the financial, educational, and even emotional realities of younger adults. Housing, healthcare, job security, and the climate itself are all tangled up in choices made in boardrooms and ballot boxes long before Gen Z hit puberty. These 13 hard truths show just how deeply those decisions are impacting everyday life for the younger generations trying to build their futures in a system they didn’t create.
1. They drove up housing prices while blocking affordable alternatives.
Boomers bought homes when prices were relatively low and interest rates could be managed on a single income. Over time, those homes became valuable assets—and many used their political power to protect those investments at all costs. That meant resisting new development, zoning for low density, and opposing affordable housing units in their neighborhoods. They didn’t want their home values threatened, even if it meant others couldn’t get a foot in the door.
Now, Gen Z and Millennials are staring down housing markets that are completely out of reach, according to Terry Lane at Investopedia. Rent takes up half their income, and buying a home feels like a fantasy. When they do try to buy, they’re up against cash-rich Boomers scooping up investment properties. It’s not just about timing—it’s about policy. And the current generation is stuck cleaning up a mess they never agreed to.
2. They voted in policies that gutted higher education funding.
College used to be affordable—or at least manageable. Boomers went to school when tuition was low and state funding covered a big chunk of the cost. But over the years, they supported tax cuts that slashed funding for public universities, shifting the burden onto students, as reported by Jeremy Hayes at Buzzfeed. Instead of paying higher taxes to keep education accessible, the cost was passed on to the people who could least afford it.
Now, Millennials and Gen Z are graduating with mountains of debt before they even get their first paycheck. It’s not uncommon to see six figures in student loans for a degree that doesn’t guarantee stability. These younger generations are expected to pay off the consequences of budget cuts they didn’t vote for, while trying to save for homes, families, and retirement on top of it.
3. They benefited from strong unions, then dismantled them.
Boomers entered a job market where unions were powerful, pensions were common, and job security was the norm. Those protections gave them leverage and financial peace of mind. But over time, many backed political movements that weakened labor rights, slashed benefits, and glorified corporate deregulation, as stated by Francis Beckett at The Guardian . They were sold the idea of free markets—and bought in hard.
Now, Gen Z and Millennials are trying to survive in a gig economy with no benefits, no guarantees, and no backup. Unions are scarce, and companies are more concerned with profit margins than people. The stable middle-class jobs Boomers once held have been replaced with contract work and burnout. It’s not just a different economy—it’s a dismantled one, and rebuilding it won’t be easy.
4. They inflated the cost of healthcare while keeping their plans intact.
Healthcare costs didn’t just spike overnight. Over decades, Boomers allowed an industry to grow that prioritizes profit over patient care. While they held onto generous employer-sponsored plans or locked in Medicare benefits, they supported policies that left younger generations stuck with expensive premiums and deductibles that make care feel out of reach.
Millennials and Gen Z are now navigating a healthcare system where one ER visit can derail their finances. Insurance is expensive and often doesn’t cover enough. Mental health services? Out of network or wildly underfunded. Boomers might not see it, but the system they left behind favors those already inside—while newcomers struggle just to access the basics.
5. They downplayed climate change until it was too late.
The science wasn’t hidden. Warnings about climate change started decades ago, but Boomers as a group largely shrugged them off. Instead of shifting to clean energy, they clung to fossil fuels and backed policies that prioritized short-term growth over long-term survival. It wasn’t malicious—it was just comfortable. But that comfort came with a cost.
Now, Gen Z and Millennials are living through extreme weather, rising sea levels, and the terrifying prospect of an uninhabitable planet. They didn’t cause the problem, but they’re expected to solve it—often while being told they’re overreacting. The frustration is real. Boomers had the chance to act early and didn’t. Now, it’s crisis management mode.
6. They gamified retirement investing while making it riskier for everyone else.
Boomers were the first generation to move en masse from pensions to 401(k)s, but they did so during a time of long market growth and fewer financial landmines. They saw real gains and reaped the rewards. But in the process, retirement shifted from a guarantee to a gamble. The old rules—work hard, save consistently, retire comfortably—don’t hold up anymore.
Younger workers are stuck trying to navigate volatile markets, endless student debt, and jobs without benefits. They’re told to start investing early, but with what? Stagnant wages and high costs make it nearly impossible. The tools may be the same, but the playing field isn’t. Boomers had the wind at their backs—Gen Z and Millennials are walking into a storm.
7. They shaped a job market that values profits over people.
Boomers helped shape the modern corporate world, and for a while, it worked in their favor. But over time, loyalty stopped mattering and employee protections eroded. Outsourcing, automation, and cost-cutting became standard practice. They helped build a system that prioritizes shareholder value over worker wellbeing—and now that system is squeezing the next generation.
For Gen Z and Millennials, job hopping isn’t a lack of commitment—it’s survival. They’re not flaky. They’re burned out, underpaid, and chasing stability in an economy that rarely rewards it. The same companies that once offered pensions and bonuses now offer unpaid internships and “exposure.” It’s not a lack of work ethic—it’s a lack of reciprocity.
8. They hoarded wealth while expecting younger generations to bootstrap.
Boomers had decades to accumulate wealth in an economy with fewer obstacles. They bought homes early, benefited from tax breaks, and grew wealth steadily. But many now look at struggling young people and blame them for not working hard enough. The narrative is all about pulling yourself up—while ignoring that the ladder isn’t in the same place anymore.
Gen Z and Millennials are juggling debt, rising costs, and job instability. They aren’t entitled—they’re exhausted. The bootstrap mentality doesn’t work when the boots are missing soles and the system keeps moving the goalposts. It’s not about envy—it’s about fairness, and younger generations are asking for the chance to build something, not handouts.
9. They normalized consumer debt while making it harder to escape.
Credit cards exploded during the Boomer era, and with them came a culture of buy-now-pay-later. While they had rising wages and less competition for jobs, debt was manageable. But they helped normalize it to the point where it now traps younger generations who don’t have the same financial runway to pay it off.
Today’s younger adults are using credit to survive, not splurge. Groceries, rent gaps, emergency expenses—they’re going on plastic. And when interest rates soar, the burden becomes crushing. The Boomer generation helped build a system of easy credit, but now that the economy has changed, it’s Gen Z and Millennials who are stuck under its weight.
10. They dominated politics and left little room for new ideas.
Boomers have held onto political power for decades, and many still do. Their policies and perspectives have shaped everything from tax codes to healthcare to education. But as the world changes rapidly, younger voices struggle to be heard. Innovation is stifled when the same generation keeps calling the shots.
This isn’t just about age—it’s about lived experience. Gen Z and Millennials are growing up in a totally different reality. They want to address climate change, student debt, gun violence, and social justice in new ways. But breaking through decades of entrenched power is no easy task. Boomers had their say—it’s time to pass the mic.
11. They profited off industries that left behind environmental and economic wreckage.
Boomers built careers in industries like oil, banking, and real estate that were booming in their day—but many of those same sectors created long-term problems. Environmental damage, economic bubbles, and unaffordable cities didn’t happen overnight. They were the result of choices made while profits were high and regulation was low.
Now, younger generations are tasked with rebuilding or surviving what’s left. Cleanup isn’t just literal—it’s financial, emotional, and political. The industries that made Boomers wealthy often made the world harder to live in. That’s not bitterness—it’s just the reality Millennials and Gen Z are waking up to every day.
12. They rejected public investment that would have helped everyone.
During their peak earning and voting years, many Boomers supported policies that slashed public spending. Schools were defunded. Transit systems aged out. Healthcare and housing support dried up. The logic was smaller government and lower taxes—but the cost was a crumbling safety net.
Now, the younger generations are left with underfunded systems and outdated infrastructure. They’re still paying into the pot, but they’re getting less in return. Investing in community isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential. And without it, the cracks keep widening, and Gen Z and Millennials are the ones falling through.
13. They shaped media narratives that shame younger generations for struggling.
Boomers have had a stronghold on media, and for years, the message has been the same—young people are lazy, entitled, addicted to screens, or too sensitive. It’s a convenient way to ignore the economic and social realities facing younger adults. Instead of asking why things are so hard, the blame shifts to personality.
This shame narrative is exhausting and often untrue. Most young adults are working harder than ever for less return. They aren’t looking for shortcuts—they’re asking for the same shot their parents had. But when they speak up, they’re dismissed. The real issue isn’t lack of drive—it’s being gaslit by a generation that refuses to see how the game has changed.