A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that Britain’s long-running housing boom has made parental property wealth a decisive factor in shaping the career and earnings prospects of young adults.

The report highlights that, while wages and education remain important, the ability of parents to support their children in buying or renting property strongly influences where they live, the jobs they can pursue, and the wealth they accumulate. “Housing costs are a growing barrier to young people accessing high-productivity labour markets and…an individual’s housing, location and career choices are increasingly determined by the amount of financial support they receive from family,” the report stated.

House prices in the UK have risen sharply since the 1990s, particularly in London and the South East, while homeownership among young adults has declined. The IFS report argues that rising property prices have transformed parental housing wealth into a key determinant of opportunity. “Increased parental housing wealth causes larger wealth transfers to adult children… wealthier parents help their children overcome liquidity constraints to move to high house price parts of the country,” the study said.

Living in London, Britain’s most expensive housing market and highest-earning labour market, has become increasingly linked to parental support. Access to the capital allows young adults to benefit from better jobs, higher wages, and professional networks. The report estimates that moving to London from a low-paying area initially raises earnings by 15 percent, increasing to over 50 percent after eight years.

The report also finds that parental wealth influences career choices. Offspring from wealthier families are more likely to take creative roles in media, arts, design, fashion, and sports within London, while those from less advantaged backgrounds are more often employed in science, engineering, or health jobs outside the capital.

Gender differences are notable. For men, parental housing wealth significantly boosts the likelihood of entering top-earning occupations in London. “Men with a college degree who move earn on average 10% more than those who do not move,” the report found. For women, the effect is less pronounced, with parental wealth slightly increasing the chance of leaving paid work or shifting away from mid-level earnings.

The IFS data illustrates the scale of the impact: “Having parents who have £100,000 (€115,300) more gross housing wealth causes a child to attain around £15,000 more in gross housing wealth at age 28 to 37.”

Economists David Sturrock and Peter Levell, who authored the report, concluded that Britain’s housing boom has reinforced existing inequalities and strengthened the transmission of advantage between generations. Young adults without wealthy parents face growing barriers to high-paying jobs, prime rental markets, and homeownership, highlighting the enduring influence of family wealth on social mobility in the UK.

Boeing outsold European rival Airbus in commercial aircraft orders in 2025 for the first time in seven years, as the US administration promoted American manufacturing abroad. The company also recorded its highest annual aircraft delivery total since 2018, signaling a recovery after years of operational setbacks.

According to a Boeing press release, the company delivered 600 commercial jets last year, including 63 in December alone. Of these, 447 were 737 series planes, the backbone of single-aisle airline fleets, alongside deliveries of 767, 777, and 787 wide-body aircraft. Boeing also reported 1,173 net new orders for 2025, reflecting renewed confidence in its product lineup and production stability.

Boeing faced a challenging period over the past few years, including two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, and a January 2024 incident when a door plug blew out mid-flight. The Covid-19 pandemic further disrupted production, causing supply-chain bottlenecks and the loss of skilled workers. The 2025 figures indicate a significant rebound, highlighting progress in ramping up output and restoring airline trust.

Airbus, while still delivering more aircraft overall, faced its own production constraints. The European manufacturer handed over 793 jets to 91 airline customers in 2025 and recorded 1,000 gross orders, or 889 net orders after cancellations. Airbus noted that its backlog now exceeds 8,750 aircraft, with deliveries including smaller A220 jets and wide-body A330neo and A350 models. The company described 2025 as a year of steady progress despite “a continued complex and dynamic operating environment,” particularly for its popular A320 family.

Although Airbus still leads in total deliveries, Boeing’s strong order book may mark an inflection point for the US manufacturer, reflecting optimism after years of setbacks. Analysts point to both production improvements and high-profile deals as drivers of the rebound.

Boeing’s order momentum received a boost from the Trump administration’s promotion of US manufacturing abroad. In May 2025, a White House-backed deal with Qatar Airways was announced for up to 210 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, valued at $96 billion (€82.35 billion). Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg publicly thanked President Trump for supporting the deal, emphasizing the company’s role as “one of America’s leading exporters.”

The White House framed the agreement as a jobs and exports win, highlighting the impact on American manufacturing. Qatar Airways described the deal as the largest wide-body and largest 787 order in the airline’s history, underscoring its significance for Boeing’s global operations.

The 2025 figures signal a rebound for Boeing, positioning the company to compete more aggressively with Airbus in the years ahead, as global airlines continue to expand their fleets amid post-pandemic recovery.

A new report from the UK’s Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that rising house prices have made parental property wealth a key determinant of opportunity for younger generations. The study finds that family wealth increasingly shapes where young adults live, the types of jobs they take, and their earnings potential.

While education and wages remain important, the report emphasizes that the ability of parents to support their children in accessing high-cost housing markets has become a major factor in life outcomes. Economists David Sturrock and Peter Levell, who co-authored the study, say Britain’s long-term house-price growth has strengthened the role of inherited wealth in shaping social mobility.

“Housing costs are a growing barrier to young people accessing high-productivity labour markets and an individual’s housing, location and career choices are increasingly determined by the amount of financial support they receive from family,” the report stated.

House prices have surged across the UK since the 1990s, particularly in London and the South East, while homeownership among young adults has fallen. Rising property values mean that children of wealthier parents can more easily afford deposits and move to high-cost areas, giving them access to better-paid jobs and professional networks.

The report highlights that living in London, Britain’s most expensive housing market, has become a privilege for those from wealthier families. For these young adults, moving to the capital can increase initial earnings by around 15%, rising to more than 50% over eight years, according to the study. By contrast, those from less wealthy backgrounds face barriers to entering the city and its high-earning labour market.

Parental wealth also shapes career choices. Young people from affluent families are more likely to work in creative fields such as media, arts, fashion, and design in London, while those from less privileged backgrounds more often pursue science, engineering, and health roles outside the capital. The effects are especially pronounced for men, who are more likely to move into top-earning occupations with parental support. For women, the impact is more varied, with parental wealth slightly increasing the probability of leaving paid work or making smaller shifts in earnings.

The report quantifies the effect of parental property wealth, finding that a £100,000 increase in parents’ housing wealth translates to around £15,000 more in housing wealth for adult children between the ages of 28 and 37.

Researchers warn that the housing boom has not only entrenched inequality but accelerated the transfer of advantage between generations, reinforcing wealth persistence in the UK. As housing costs continue to rise, young adults without substantial family support face growing barriers to accessing high-earning jobs and achieving financial stability.

The study underscores how Britain’s property market has become a key mechanism for passing opportunity from one generation to the next, with housing wealth shaping life chances long after education and wages are considered.bu