--- title: "Protests Erupt Across Germany and Europe Over Young People's Future Prospects" url: https://newscentral.site/protests-erupt-across-germany-and-europe-over-young-people-s-future/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-11-14T06:09:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-14T09:32:00.269Z id: 2c50643b-e50c-44cd-b96d-96b50e93d495 source: "DW English https://www.dw.com/en/gen-z-protests-do-baby-boomers-really-have-it-better-than-young-people/a-79918854?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/protests-erupt-across-germany-and-europe-over-young-people-s-future/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Protests Erupt Across Germany and Europe Over Young People's Future Prospects Youth researcher Simon Schnetzer believes that young people today face significant challenges, but it's also valid to ask whether previous generations faced similar issues. Protests have erupted across Germany and Europe as young people express concerns about their future prospects. These demonstrations are prompting a debate: do members of Gen Z face more significant challenges than Baby Boomers did in the 1990s? Youth researcher Simon Schnetzer has been studying this question, and he believes it's valid to ask whether things were just as tough for previous generations. However, young people today see their own struggles as a pressing issue that demands support now. According to Schnetzer, who authored the Youth in Germany study, one key concern raised by recent protests is: have we provided young people with the conditions necessary to live and work confidently here? His response is straightforward: no, we haven't. The projected decline in contributors to support retirees is stark, with numbers expected to drop significantly by 2045. The pension system will then rely on just 1.73 contributors per retiree, a ratio that highlights the strain on the financial burden of supporting an aging population. To mitigate this trend and maintain stable contribution rates, the government already provides substantial subsidies to the pension system. These annual injections amount to approximately €118 billion, which accounts for roughly 25% of the federal budget. This significant allocation underscores the importance of addressing the underlying issues driving the decline in contributors. The strain on the pension system is evident in the rising numbers of retirees relying on basic income support from the government. Between 2003 and 2024, this figure has increased from 257,000 to 738,000, indicating that many retirees are struggling to make ends meet. The financial burden on low-income households is significant, particularly when it comes to housing costs. Data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office reveals that these households spend a substantial amount more of their disposable income on rent compared to high-income households. In 2025, an alarming 11% of the population will struggle with housing costs exceeding 40% of their disposable income. The situation is even more dire for those at risk of poverty, where 35% of their income goes towards housing expenses. This stark reality highlights the pressing need for affordable housing solutions. A report by real estate platform Jacasa suggests that a potential solution lies in the transfer of properties from Baby Boomers to younger generations. With approximately 4.8 million owner-occupied houses and apartments currently owned by this demographic, there is a significant pool of properties expected to change hands in the coming years. As these properties are sold or passed down through inheritance, it could lead to an oversupply in certain regions, resulting in lower property prices according to Jacasa's projections. This development may provide much-needed relief for younger generations struggling with housing costs. Public spending on education has increased significantly since 2011, rising from approximately €4,000 to around €8,000 per person annually. Despite this increase, Germany ranks only mid-table internationally in terms of public education spending as a percentage of GDP. The additional funding allocated to education cannot solely address the issue of teacher shortages in Germany. Estimates suggest that by 2035, the country will be short approximately 27,000 teachers due to a combination of factors including the retirement of Baby Boomers and declining birth rates. This has resulted in a scarcity of young teachers entering the profession. The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has highlighted this pressing concern, emphasizing that teacher shortages are a far-reaching problem that cannot be easily resolved by increased funding alone. The consequences of climate change are a stark reminder of the challenges facing future generations. According to the United Nations, global warming is on track to reach 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century if current policies remain in place. Heat waves, in particular, will become more frequent and severe for children growing up today. A study published by Vrije University in Brussels projected that six-year-olds could experience heat waves two to seven times as often as their Boomer counterparts did over a lifetime. Youth researcher Schnetzer emphasizes that Baby Boomers and Gen Z are facing similar challenges, which necessitates a joint approach to address their shared concerns. By uniting both generations in protests, they can collectively push for change and create prospects for prosperity. Schnetzer advocates for a constructive process following the protests, where goals and measures are defined to ensure everyone's support, even if it means making sacrifices. He believes that this collaborative effort is just the beginning of a necessary shift towards a more sustainable future. --- Source: [DW English](https://www.dw.com/en/gen-z-protests-do-baby-boomers-really-have-it-better-than-young-people/a-79918854?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/protests-erupt-across-germany-and-europe-over-young-people-s-future/