Why More Young Adults Are Saying Yes to the Family Business
Wingspan Founder Christina Wing was recently featured in Inc. magazine discussing a trend we’re seeing across many families: more young adults are choosing to join the family business.
As the white-collar job market cools, some recent grads are heading home—not just to live, but to work. A new Gusto study found the number of young adults working in family businesses has more than doubled since 2019. In January alone, there was a 13% jump compared to the same time last year. A recent Wall Street Journal article also underscored the shift, noting that younger family members are increasingly stepping into roles they may have once avoided.
With 85% of family businesses still led by Baby Boomers, the timing makes sense. Many founders are thinking seriously about succession—and some in the Rising Gen are ready to explore how they fit into the picture.
Christina offered practical advice for families navigating this shift:
- Clarity matters. Even in casual arrangements, define roles and responsibilities early.
- Don’t skip the hard stuff. Transparency builds trust. Conversations about money, succession, and roles may feel uncomfortable—but avoiding them rarely ends well.
- Earned, not given. Putting a Rising Gen family member straight into an executive role can backfire. Let them build credibility and confidence over time.
- Policies before they’re personal. It’s much easier to align on prenups, employment terms, and ownership expectations before emotions and assumptions creep in.
- Don’t assume this is forever. One young person in the article said it best: “I’m trying to figure out if I’m really trying to work at this company for my entire life.” Not every role needs to be permanent to be valuable. Family members don’t have to be operators to be good owners.
Her guidance reflects what we see every day: with structure, communication, and a little patience, the Rising Gen can play a powerful role in shaping what comes next.
While the article frames this trend as a response to limited options, we see something else too. The silver lining of a tougher job market may be that more families rediscover the value—and possibility—of working together. It’s a reminder that family businesses aren’t just a fallback. They’re a foundation.
