CITIZENS NEWS

Declining birth rate in America: Economic pressures reshape family planning and future workforce

By bellecarter // 2025-10-06

• The rise in childlessness among American women in their twenties and thirties, highlighted by Census Bureau data, is causing concern about the future of Social Security and the labor force. Experts attribute this trend to high living costs and changing priorities.
• High expenses, including housing, childcare, healthcare and education, are making parenthood financially challenging. This economic burden is leading more young adults to prioritize economic security over starting families.
• Falling birth rates below replacement levels are straining Social Security and the labor market. Without intervention, this could necessitate cuts in benefits or tax increases.
• Rising retirement age and automation may partially offset labor shortages, but they fail to address critical workforce gaps in sectors like healthcare and skilled trades.
• Despite global declines in fertility rates, the U.S. lags in family benefits compared to other nations. Cultural shifts and economic pressures highlight the urgent need for policy interventions to address these challenges.

A sharp rise in childlessness among American women in their twenties and thirties has sparked concerns among economists about the long-term stability of Social Security and the U.S. labor force, according to a new Census Bureau report. The data, analyzed by the Epoch Times, reveals that 85 percent of women aged 20–24 had no children in 2024—up from 75 percent a decade ago—with similar increases seen among women in their late twenties and early thirties. Experts attribute this trend to soaring costs of living, delayed career entry and shifting priorities among younger generations, raising questions about the nation's economic future. The report highlights that economic security is now a higher priority than starting a family for many young adults. Housing, childcare, healthcare and education expenses have surged, making parenthood financially daunting. Samantha Trajkovski, an economics professor at Saint Michael's College, told the Epoch Times: "Affordable quality childcare is hard to find. In some cases, parents can pay upwards of $100 a day—that's $500 a week or $24,000 a year." Childcare costs vary drastically by state, from $28,356 annually in Washington, D.C., to $6,868 in Mississippi. Long waiting lists in rural areas exacerbate the problem, forcing many women to delay childbearing until their late thirties or forties—when fertility declines sharply. Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out that American birth rates peaked in the post-WWII "baby boom" era, when economic prosperity and government support for families encouraged early marriage and larger households. Today, however, stagnant wages, student debt and inflation have reversed that trend.

Social Security and workforce challenges

With birth rates falling below replacement level—the threshold needed to maintain population stability—economists warn of looming strains on Social Security and the labor market. Trajkovski noted: "This will have a big impact on Social Security in the next 20 to 30 years if we don't find a solution. It could mean cutting benefits or raising taxes." The Social Security Administration's current retirement age of 67 may rise further as fewer workers support an aging population. Meanwhile, automation and AI could offset some labor shortages but fail to address critical gaps in healthcare, skilled trades and public safety. Wafa Hakim Orman, a labor economist at the University of Alabama Huntsville, described the dilemma as a "double-edged sword": "Fewer people mean fewer mass job losses due to AI, but innovation often comes from younger generations. Too few young workers could slow economic growth." The U.S. is not alone in this demographic shift. Pew Research data shows global fertility rates declining, with Europe and North America at just 1.4 and 1.6 births per woman, respectively. Some nations, like Poland and Iceland, spend over three percent of GDP on family benefits—far more than the U.S.'s one percent. Orman observed that cultural attitudes toward parenthood have also evolved: "People used to see children as extra hands to help with work. Now, parents invest heavily in education and quality of life—and those costs have soared." As birth rates continue to fall, policymakers face urgent questions about sustaining Social Security, incentivizing family growth and adapting to an aging workforce. Without intervention, economists warn, the U.S. could face economic stagnation and generational imbalances unseen since the Industrial Revolution. The choices made today will determine whether America's future is one of resilience—or demographic decline. Watch the video below that talks about the possibility of a "baby bonus" to boost birth rates. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com Census.gov TheEpochTimes.com PewResearch.org Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com

collapse economy market crash social security risk money supply inflation bubble demographics birth rate declining population aging workforce economic stagnation