July 15, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Unemployment of parents with children under 18

In 2002, as in 2001, the average annual unemployment rate for parents of children under 18 was lower for married persons (spouse present) than for persons of other marital status.

[Chart data—TXT]

In 2002, the jobless rate for married mothers with children under 18 was 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate for unmarried mothers—those who were single, widowed, divorced, or separated—was 9.5 percent.

The jobless rate for married fathers with children under 18 was 3.7 percent, while among unmarried fathers, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. 

For all persons with children under 18 (women and men, any marital status) the average annual unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, up from 3.9 percent the previous year.

These estimates are based on annual average data from the Current Population Survey, a national sample survey of about 60,000 households conducted monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau. See the Employment Characteristics of families in 2002 (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 03-369, for more information. Data for 2001 have been revised to reflect the introduction of Census 2000-based population controls. These data are for persons in the labor force with their “own children,” which includes sons, daughters, step-children and adopted children. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children are not included. "Other marital status" includes never-married, divorced, separated, and widowed persons.

Related Articles:

• Families and unemployment, 2002