Technology

I'd reason that has more to do with your circles than anything else.

I entered college right around that time. I know multiple families who lost their home from it. My parents nearly did. My Grandparents attempt to downsize was delayed by almost five years of sitting with their house on the market and they ended up having to absolutely slash the sales price to sell their home.

I know people who lost their jobs as primary breadwinner in their household and never were able to get back into the workforce in any significant capacity until just before the pandemic.

I know many people who graduated college 2008-2012, had wonderful credentials/resumes, who weren't able to find stable employment or a starter "career" job until 2017 or later.

Hell, the 2008 crash was the big tipping point for the public idea that if you worked hard and did good in school, you could just expect things to work out well for your employment.

There's all sorts of shit you could use to pick apart these folks, blame what occurred on choices they made, and you wouldn't be entirely off base for some of them. However, that doesnct change that despite your personal circles, it had a significant impact.

We're going anecdote v anecdote here. Your insistance of a lack of effect on people crumbles the moment anyone comes in and says they know people who were.