Why America is giving up

Aug 29, 2026

Young Americans are getting squeezed out of jobs and housing, and a growing number of people are giving up and moving abroad — bad news for graduates, renters, and anyone betting on the American dream.

  • Computer science graduates are landing nothing: AI has eaten entry-level jobs and even internships have dried up, with thousands of students chasing the same few spots.
  • Companies are using AI instead of training juniors, which quietly destroys the pipeline of future workers.
  • Housing is out of reach — a $600,000 house is now normal, so adults with full-time careers are still living in their childhood bedrooms.
  • Americans who moved to places like Japan, China, and the Philippines say their money goes far further and their stress dropped, and most say they will not come back.
  • Everyday costs pile on too: car ownership, high-interest auto loans, and youth sports that now run families thousands of dollars a year.

Outlook: With entry-level hiring shrinking and home prices staying high, expect more young Americans to stay home longer and more working-age people to look for a life outside the country.

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