The 10-Second Version (AI Summary)
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What happened: Gallup found that only 44% of Americans aged 18 to 29 are thriving, down from 64% in 2010, while adults 65 and older hit a record high.
Why it matters: One of the steepest drops is in young adults having a leader who makes them enthusiastic about the future.
What to do: Connect your most experienced people with your newest ones on purpose.
Every single day, somebody turns to an LLM for the mentorship they once got from the older generation. The sad part is that some of those same older folks are talking to LLMs as if they’re looking for somebody to mentor.
Somebody needs to build a dating app for this: mentors on one side, mentees on the other, swipe right on the person you want to learn from. Somebody vibe-code it, and we’ll take 40% of net revenue in perpetuity for the idea.
The joke points at something serious, which Paul and Kyle dug into on today’s Automotive State of the Union.
How many young adults say they’re thriving in 2026?
According to Gallup, 44% of Americans aged 18 to 29 are thriving. To count as thriving, a person has to rate their current life a 7 or higher out of 10 and their life five years from now an 8 or higher.
Age group | 2010 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
18 to 29 | 64% | 44% | down 20 points |
30 to 44 | 59% | 45% | down 14 points |
45 to 64 | 49% | 46% | down 3 points |
65 and older | 43% | 53% | up 10 points |
Only one age group is better off than it was in 2010.
What’s driving the gap between younger and older Americans?
Among adults 18 to 29, the share being treated for depression rose 11 points to 27% after 2019. The share who experienced enjoyment the previous day fell 17 points to 64%. The share who felt active and productive every day dropped 16 points to 28%.
Older Americans are moving the other way, and money explains much of it. Among adults 65 and older, 59% say they have enough money to do everything they want, up 13 points, and 67% didn’t worry about money in the past week, up 10 points.
Only 33% of adults 18 to 29 say a leader in their life makes them enthusiastic about the future, down 14 points since 2019. Among adults 30 to 44, the figure is 29%.
What can a dealership do about a missing mentor?
Money matters, but vision for the future and a sense of opportunity matter more. Retail auto has plenty of both, along with a long tradition of mentorship that very few industries can match. Most people associate thriving with comfort. Kyle’s challenge to leaders is to help people find it through contentment where they are and a clear picture of where they could go.
That work doesn’t need an app. Your veteran service advisor and your newest BDC hire already work in the same building. Introduce them, give them a reason to meet regularly, and make it part of how your store develops people.
“I happen to think the retail auto industry can make a dent in these numbers,” Paul said.
Hear the full conversation on today’s Automotive State of the Union.
