We’ve written about how the recession has caused some to delay having kids and others to put off getting divorced. So it should come as no surprise that unemployment – a major factor in the current economic doldrums - also would play a role in whether people get married.
Two websites, yourtango.com and Forbes Woman, recently polled 625 of their readers and found that 75 percent of them would not marry a man who was unemployed.
The good news for lovelorn guys: Many of these women also appeared to be holding themselves to the same standard. The websites said 65 percent of the women surveyed also wouldn’t get married if they themselves were unemployed.
Although the reader survey may not reflect all women’s attitudes toward marriage, it fits with recent trends toward delaying major life events because of the long recession and weak recovery.
Last fall, U.S. Census researchers speculated that more people may be shacking up because of the high unemployment rate.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control has reported a decline in the marriage rate between 2004 and 2009, the most recent data available.
Those who are putting off tying the knot may end up waiting a while. The unemployment rate stood at 9.1 percent in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the median duration of unemployment was a hefty 22 weeks.