AZ. Since boys ages 19-22, for the most part are not dating and girls 19-22 for the most part, are dating, there is a natural age gap. The full page ads with the signatures of 60 or so Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbonim urging “close in age shidduchim” is saying 1 of 2 things (it isn’t clear what)
1) Boys should start dating at a younger age or
2) Girls should start dating at an older age
If not, the age gap will continue. the “primary cause” of older singles is not the “age gap” as it is thrown around but the age gap that is a result of the current chinuch system. If it is not changed and all 23 year old boys who start dating will be dating girls 22+, the girls 19-22 will by and large have to find something to do. Will these Rabbonim allow them to go to college, get a job in corporate america? Will the mindset of yeshiva boys towards these girls change? If not, we will have even more single at an even younger age along with many more single boys.
This “marry close in age” is half an answer, at best, and half answers are worse than no answers.
As an aside, my Rosh Yeshiva is a signatory to the full page ad. When I asked him what he signed onto, he replied “the concept that close in age shidduchim is not a bad thing” and that “shadchanim should give priority to older girls, whenever possible”. He trusted, that is what would be “advertised”. He did not expect, and quite frankly does not agree with the premise that the “primary cause” of the “singles crisis” is the dating age. What can he do now? He advises his bachurim when to date and if asked, offers advise on a particular shidduch, he will NOT say, “not for you, your 23 and she is 19”.