I'd argue that the ones that are really struggling are the ones that went to some college, but didn't manage to finish. My generation was sold hard on the idea

I'd argue that the ones that are really struggling are the ones that went to some college, but didn't manage to finish. My generation was sold hard on the idea that everybody needed to go to college, but the reality is that most of them were not prepared or equipped to actually complete a college-level education. So an alarming number struggled through a few years, bounced around a couple schools, and dropped out, with little to show for it besides a heaping pile of student debt. Now they are competing for the same jobs as their compatriots that didn't waste a few years and tens of thousands of dollars, and were earning and gaining real-world skills in the meantime.