Many young adults receive financial support from family or state
Many young adults aged 18 to 24 receive financial support from family or the state. In the past year, over a third (35 percent) relied on money from parents or other relatives, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Conversely, a good half (51 percent) already earned their money mainly on their own. 13 percent were primarily dependent on public benefits, such as BAföG, scholarships, or unemployment benefits. Only one percent of young people relied on their own assets for their living expenses.
The proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds not engaged in school or vocational training or employment was 7.5 percent in 2023, similar to the first two COVID years of 2020 (7.4 percent) and 2021 (7.8 percent), the office reported. Before the pandemic, this proportion reached a ten-year low of 5.7 percent in 2019.
The unemployment rate for young people alone has decreased in the past three years and was 5.9 percent in 2023, the lowest since 2019 (5.8 percent). Over the past 20 years, youth unemployment in Germany has almost halved (2003: 11.0 percent).
Many young adults who are not engaged in school, vocational training, or employment might also rely on financial support, as seen with the 13% depending on public benefits.
Despite the significant decrease in youth unemployment, many young adults still need financial assistance, with over a third (35%) relying on family or relatives in the past year.
