By Penna Dexter

There’s a new study out showing that, for the first time since 1880, young adults are more likely to live at home with mom and dad than in their own households with a spouse or romantic partner. Pew Research Center analyzed the census data and found that, in 2014, living with parents became the most common living arrangement for millennials.

According to the report, among 18-to-34-year-olds, 32.1 percent were back home with parents, while 31.6 percent were married living with their spouse, or unmarried and cohabiting with a boyfriend or girlfriend. The rest lived with roommates, other family members, or alone.

This brings to mind a couple of questions. First, is this a blip or a trend? It’s a trend. The share of young adults living with their parents has been edging up since the sixties — dropping some in the 90’s — but rising sharply after 2000.

We could also ask: Is this by choice or of necessity? Both. There’s been a dramatic drop in the number of young people who settle down with a spouse or live-in romantic partner before age 35. Millennials are choosing to marry later, or not at all. The report cites “the postponement of, if not retreat from, marriage” as an important factor in the uptick in young adults living with their folks. Studies show most still want to tie the knot someday, but there’s a growing attitude among millennials that you’ve got to meet certain financial goals before marrying.

That’s in contrast to previous generations who may have struggled financially during early adulthood. We did without, but we did it married.

So, yes, the trend toward young adults moving back home results from certain choices they’re making. But it also rises from economic necessity.

The worsening employment picture for young men in recent years is the subject of great concern and this study showed more young men than young women living with their parents. Its authors point out that, “The share of young men with jobs peaked around 1980 at 84 percent. In 2014, only 71 percent of 18-to-34-year-old men were employed.” More black and Hispanic young people are unemployed and living with parents than whites. But the trend is up for all demographic groups.

College graduates fare better in the labor market and establish their own households at higher rates. But student debt is also keeping more of them under their parents’ roofs.

These results, fueled by a sluggish jobs picture dovetail with the popularity of out-of-the-box presidential candidates who promise to change it. Polls show the support for Donald Trump skews male, white and poor.

There is a bright side. Family togetherness can be a good thing. Maybe a time to work through some lingering immaturities. And better to be home with Mom and Dad than living in a non-marital, sexual relationship.

Kids, if you’re in this spot, love on your folks, and help out — a lot.