Several analyses and many research have assessed that in all European countries, with different intensity and spreads, over the past thirty years the timing of the transition to adulthood of young generations has lengthened, the patterns in the sequences of this transition are getting more and more de-standardized and inequalities in the opportunities of starting a new family have become even more dependent on the social origins of young un-married and non-parent persons. The achievement of the traditional milestones associated with adulthood within the current cohort of young adults appears to differ by social class backgrounds, and these differences may be growing due to the differential support of natal families.

A whole flurry of explanations has been given to understand these phenomena. They are not mutually exclusive, but contribute together to compose the framework of the transformations in which old e new processes of social reproduction of inequalities are at work.

In addition to cultural factors promoting the permanence of young people in the parental home (such as for example the spread of a new and more horizontal relational attitude between parents and children or the now fully-established pattern of young consumerism), structural assets connected to labour market amplifies the strength of inequalities deriving from social backgrounds.

The adaptation of intergenerational family strategies – parents sustaining their children in educational investments, supporting their job search, contributing to the costs of house – varies considerably on the basis of the social class.

The new dynamics of the labour market expand the sharpening of inequalities up to the point that event procreation and parenting seem to become two luxury possibilities limited to only to affluent classes. Therefore, not only the wrinkling of job opportunities , not only the rigid austerity in public expenditures for welfare programs, but also the selective decline of long-term employment is one of the causes of the delay in first childbirths.

What is the role of educational attainment in influencing this process? In addition to social background, how different qualifications and different durations of studies may affect opportunities and constraints in completing transition to adulthood? Can higher educational outcomes explain the likeliness to find a job, leave parental home, enter a marital union and have a children?

How national education systems, vet and continuous training curricula, via skills outcomes, produce opportunities for young to emancipate themselves from family social origins? How higher qualifications can fill the gaps in employment policies, housing policies and family/work balances policies of each national context?

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