This seems to be a significant (and sad) trend. It's also good to note that the increase in college grads doesn't offset this trend. "Younger Americans are mo

This seems to be a significant (and sad) trend. It's also good to note that the increase in college grads doesn't offset this trend. "Younger Americans are more likely to have attained a four-year degree than older groups. Among Americans between the ages of 25 to 34, 37 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree. Among those 55 and older, just under 30 percent have a four-year degree." (Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/326995-census-more-americans-have-college-degrees-than-ever-before https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/326995-census-more-...) It seems like the reasons suggested have merit: the numbers start to rise steadily after trade deals that facilitate globalization. I noticed that one of the reasons mentioned seemed a bit weak: > “Many people used to associate the meaning of their life with what their corporation or institution was doing,” says Deaton, a Nobel laureate in economics. Miners and factory workers identified themselves as such. Warehouse workers, especially those whose paycheck is signed by a staffing company, rarely feel the same connection. I wonder if social media and entertainment could be a partial contributor to the numbers increase. With how distracting and/or addictive internet entertainment is nowadays, it's easy for people to lose enough time to become "trapped" and unable to solve their problems.