Losing a parent during childhood or early adulthood can have a profound and lasting negative impact on career trajectories and earning potential, according to a major 2023 study. The research, based on Finnish data, found that such bereavement is associated with lower income and higher unemployment rates in later life.
The study indicates that men who lost their father before turning 21 experienced 16.4% lower annual earnings between the ages of 26 and 30. For women in the same situation, the associated earnings loss was 10.9%. The early death of a mother also showed negative correlations, though the effects varied.
The Missing "Career GPS"
Career experts describe parents as often acting as a crucial "career GPS navigator" for young adults entering the job market. Julia Levy, a career advisor and author of "From Hi to Hired," explained that this guidance extends beyond practical advice to shaping a professional identity and understanding workplace norms.
"Colleges don't teach you how to handle a difficult boss, or when to ask for a raise, or how to read between the lines of a performance review," Levy said. "Some of these things are passed down at the dinner table or over a cup of coffee in the morning."
Personal Stories of Guidance and Loss
The absence of this support is keenly felt. Alana Aichholz, 21, who is preparing to graduate from Northeastern University, lost both her parents—her father in high school and her mother, Laurene, to cancer in 2022. She misses their unique perspective on her career choices in nursing.
"Something that I would crave their advice on is: What did you see in me as a kid?" Aichholz told Business Insider. "I'm sure they would have things to say."
For Erum Salam, a 30-year-old reporter at MSNow in New York, her father was instrumental in her becoming a journalist. He encouraged her questioning nature and later advised her to apply to The Guardian. After a stroke in 2022 left him with aphasia and she became his carer, she still sought his counsel until his death in 2024.
"I did not realize how much I relied on him for guidance in all aspects of my life, especially my career, all financial decisions," Salam said.
Seeking Alternatives and Navigating Alone
In the wake of loss, many turn to mentors, siblings, or extended family. Cassie Crooks-Leupke, who lost her father in a motorcycle accident, now "cobbles together wisdom" from many people. "I'm calling like 12 people and meld what they're saying to try to find the thing I think my dad would say," she explained.
Others, like Salam, turn to technology. "I ask ChatGPT, and I read articles, and I'm figuring it out all on my own," she said. However, Levy notes that professional mentors, while valuable, are not a perfect substitute for parental support, especially for late-night worries about an upcoming interview.
A Challenging Economic Backdrop
These personal challenges are set against a difficult economic landscape for early-career professionals. The unemployment rate for workers aged 25-34 rose to 4.8% in March, up from 4.0% a year prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"You are seeing companies cut back at some of their lower-level roles," Levy observed. "It's a crazy time right now. I don't think it's going to get much better." This context amplifies the disadvantage faced by young adults navigating the job market without traditional parental guidance.