Young men are increasingly facing financial struggles, which contributed to Trump's victory.

• Experts suggest that perceived economic disparities may have motivated young men to vote, contributing to the Republicans' victory on Election Day.
• A recent survey found that men were more likely than women to believe the election results would affect their financial life in the short term, and those voters mostly supported Trump.

On election day, the gender gap was one of the most significant divisions among Americans, with more women voting for Vice President Kamala Harris and a majority of men supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

According to NBC News exit polls, women favored Harris by an 8-point margin, with 53% support compared to Trump's 45%, while men backed Trump by a 13-point margin, with 55% favoring Trump and 42% backing Harris, resulting in a 21-point gender divide.

Trump garnered significant backing from men on economic matters, particularly among Hispanic and Black voters who were disheartened. The most pressing issue for voters was inflation, while the current economic climate also posed a concern.

The Trump presidency could impact the housing market.

Experts suggest that perceived economic disparities may have motivated young men to vote for Trump on Election Day.

Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, stated that men believe there are no opportunities for economic advancement.

'That is a huge, huge gap'

There is a growing disillusionment taking hold.

The prime working years for men, specifically those between 25 to 54, are seeing a decline in their participation in the workforce.

Over the past decade, fewer younger men have been enrolling in college, while men without a college degree are leaving the workforce at a higher rate, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

In 1995, both men and women were equally likely to hold a bachelor's degree at 25%. However, today, 47% of women aged 25 to 34 in the U.S. have a bachelor's degree compared to 37% of men their age, according to Pew.

"That is a huge, huge gap," Pollak said.

In many areas, vocational programs and other alternative pathways are not as widespread as they used to be, according to Pollak.

Experts say that traditional blue-collar jobs that once employed many non-college educated men have declined due to automation and globalization, resulting in job displacement and uncertainty about future employment prospects.

Pollak stated that the group felt like they were being left behind.

According to Brett House, an economics professor at Columbia Business School, the major concern is that we are producing a group of young men who lack the necessary skills and education to fully participate in the labor force, particularly in former manufacturing industrial powerhouse states.

According to Richard Fry, a senior researcher at Pew, young men are increasingly being classified as NEETs, or those who are neither employed, enrolled in education, or in training, a group that has been disproportionately affected by globalization and the decline of manufacturing in this country.

"According to Fry, when there are no rewards for working, individuals will work less, which is a fundamental principle in labor economics."

According to a survey by NEFE, women were less likely than men to believe the results of the election would affect their financial life in the short term, and those voters mostly supported Biden.

In October, NEFE surveyed 1,000 adults about their financial concerns regarding the 2024 presidential election and found that those with less than a high school diploma and those with a two-year degree were most likely to report that their financial life would be affected by the election.

According to Billy Hensley, president and CEO of NEFE and a member of the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board, it is understandable that many Americans were considering their current financial situation and future prospects while voting in November.

Young women have 'made huge gains' in the workforce

According to Ali Bustamante, an economist and director at the Roosevelt Institute, women have made significant progress in their education and careers and are working as much, if not more, as their male counterparts.

Women are prioritizing their careers and looking to the government to make having children less difficult through universal child care and access to abortion, Pollak said.

"Pollak stated that in the past, women were either mothers and wives or unmarried career women. However, he noted that nowadays, women frequently prioritize their careers over being wives and mothers."

Despite the reproductive rights issue being a significant factor in the 2024 presidential race, it did not increase the number of women who voted. Additionally, it was not among the most important issues facing the country, according to exit polls.

"Young men found Trump's message relatable, according to Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women's Law Center Action Fund," said Goss Graves. "The economic pain felt by people in this country is genuine."

Other significant concerns for families include paid leave, affordable housing, child care, and equal pay, she stated.

Graves stated that while this was one election, it would be a mistake to assume that women will stop fighting in larger numbers for reproductive freedom or the things they care about; there is still work to be done.