Unemployment, Marriage, and Divorce

Love is the foundation of any marriage, but there’s only so much love can do when one spouse is unemployed. One spouse being unemployed in a marriage can strain it, likely leading to a divorce. Although dealing with a divorce is nerve-wracking, unemployment worsens it.

If one is going through a divorce but is employed, their job can provide some comfort in that period. A job helps to restore some normalcy in their lives while providing financial stability when there is financial uncertainty or division.

Conversely, this stability is unavailable for people who are unemployed and going through a divorce. Let us see your employment status’s role in your marriage and during a divorce process.

It Puts a Strain on the Marriage

Unemployment in a marriage can be a strain, causing resentment and could end a marriage. Worse still, divorce can only happen if the unemployed spouse can afford it.

Divorce is quite expensive, which explains why many people in the US cannot afford it. Harvard published a study in the American Sociological Review on over six thousand heterosexual couples. The study discovered that men who were working part-time had a 33 percent higher chance of getting divorced than those working full-time.

The Possibility of a Divorce Heightens

Ohio State University conducted several studies on marital satisfaction and employment status. The studies concluded that there is an increase in the possibility of a divorce in marriages where a man is unemployed. Most times, it is because one spouse no longer feels that the other spouse is pulling their weight, therefore becoming untethered to commitment.

If there is any animosity or strain between a couple, unemployment is bound to worsen it. 

Household Maintenance Becomes Stressed

The unemployment of one spouse in a marriage can stress household maintenance, which was already stressed in the first place. Many couples believe in the divide-and-conquer strategy where if one couple is working, the other should handle the chores. If the spouse does not meet the expectations, it will strain the marriage and increase the chances of a divorce.

An Identity Crisis Sets In

As much as we hate to admit it, one’s employment status can affect self-esteem. One spouse being unemployed can create identity crisis issues in the unemployed spouse. When individuals share income, not necessarily in a marriage, the employed and earning one is characterized as the “breadwinner.”

If the breadwinner loses their job for any reason, they can become resentful toward their spouse. Then, the other one has to look for a job to support the family.

When that happens, one may be unwilling to accept their situation due to societal perceptions of gender roles within a marriage. As such, the tension in their relationship deepens, fueling the already burning divorce fire.

Conclusion

“The decision to divorce does not suddenly jump on couples; it is the type of decision that has been a long time coming, and tenses have been building,” says attorney Galit Moskowitz of Moskowitz Law Group, LLC. The stress of unemployment can cause serious damage to a marital relationship, and divorce may become necessary in certain situations.