Gen X is the most indebted generation in America. Their employers can fix that | Fortune

"Often called the “sandwich generation,” these 40- and 50-somethings are financially squeezed by the burden of caring for their aging Baby Boomer and Silent Generation parents and simultaneously covering their Gen Z children's college tuition, all while still paying off their own mortgages, credit cards, and particularly student loans."

"Gen Xers are by far the most indebted group of Americans, in large part because they have some of the highest student loan balances. The average Gen Xer with outstanding student loans owed over $38,000 in 2025 - considerably more than the roughly $33,000 owed by the average Millennial borrower and the nearly $22,000 owed by the average Gen Z borrower, even though Gen Xers have been out of school much longer."

"Debt forces hard decisions. People struggling with student loans, in particular, must often choose between covering today's bills and saving for tomorrow. The first thing to go, understandably, is saving for retirement. But as any financial advisor would warn, each decade of delay reduces the amount of money available at retirement by roughly half."

"Most Americans have access to 401(k)s or similar retirement savings programs through their workplaces. But relatively few workers are able to contribute enough to ensure a comfortable retirement. Just 16% of Gen Xers feel they have enough saved for retirement. The median member of Gen X had just $40,000 saved for retirement, according to a 2023 study - and 40% had nothing saved at all."

Generation X adults in their 40s and 50s carry financial pressure from caring for aging parents and paying for Gen Z children’s college while also handling their own mortgages, credit cards, and student loans. Gen Xers are the most indebted Americans, largely due to high student loan balances, with the average Gen Xer owing over $38,000 in 2025. This debt contributes to stress and reduced focus during prime working years. Debt also forces tradeoffs, especially between paying current bills and saving for retirement, and delaying retirement savings can cut retirement funds by about half each decade. Only 16% of Gen Xers report having enough saved for retirement, with a median of $40,000 saved and 40% having nothing saved.

Read at Fortune