Young people are taking longer to move out of the family home and are more likely to have to wait until they have a job compared to a decade ago, latest government figures show.

In 2019 one in six (16%) adults aged 30 or younger who were still living with their parents moved out, down from 19.1% in 2011.

Two out of three (66%) were working by the time they left their parents’ home, around half of whom had a permanent contract. Just 28% were still studying, down from 40% in 2013.

The decline was steepest for 18-year-olds, just 8% of whom moved into their own accommodation in 2019, compared to 13% in 2012.

The downward trend reflects the rising cost of housing for young people, combined with the burden of student debt, democratic researcher Lonneke van den Berg told NOS.

‘It’s getting more difficult for young people to live on their own,’ she said. ‘That’s obviously linked to the housing market. House prices have risen hugely and there are fewer rental homes available.

‘Students are still choosing to study, but they are incurring debt as a result. Then they stay home so they can save up to rent a place of their own.’