Generation X is quietly drowning in debt.
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.
This debt burden leads to higher stress and sleepless nights, and directly undermines the focus and efficiency of Americans in their prime working years. Fortunately, it’s increasingly possible for employers to ease this financial strain, and put their employees — especially Gen Xers — on the path to a debt-free future, and boost while boosting loyalty and productivity in the process.
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.
