ABSTRACT

In Sweden in the late 1960s, what had previously been a moderately increasing divorce rate started to rise considerably, and today many have experienced divorce or separation. Studies on the correlation between divorce and labour-market conditions can be distinguished by whether their emphasis is on the macro- or the microlevel. In the former, women’s increasing labour-market participation is considered to lead to increasing divorce rates. The interconnected nature of family status and occupational attainment is best explored using event history techniques. The observed differences in occupational mobility between men and women of differing family status are examined more thoroughly when a number of control factors are included in a hazard regression model. Men’s occupational careers actually seemed to suffer more from divorce, and the presumption that marriage is beneficial mostly to men gains some support when changes in occupational prestige for Swedish women and men after separation/divorce are compared.