Occupation and Divorce

Analyses of the combined General Social Surveys for 1972-1983 are used to estimate propensity to divorce (proportion of ever-married persons who have ever been divorced or legally separated) for major occupational categories and for selected occupations. Separate analyses for males and females show significant estimated effects of occupation on propensity to divorce even when occupational prestige, age, age at first marriage, income, education, and number of children are statistically controlled. Contrary to the findings of previous studies, male professional and technical workers do not have the lowest propensity to divorce. Propensity to divorce for male professional and technical workers, when adjusted for income, occupational prestige, age, age at first marriage, education, and number of children, is higher than for any occupational category except transport equipment operatives. For female workers, on the other hand, professional and technical workers do have the lowest propensity to divorce among nonfarm workers.