Husband’s Job Loss during the “Great Recession”: Are Wives Picking Up the Slack?

Marybeth J. Mattingly, Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire
Kristin Smith, University of New Hampshire

American families are experiencing the effects of the “Great Recession.” Most of the job losses are accruing to men, so families may find it strategic for wives to enter the labor force, or increase their work hours. We consider this possibility using the May 2008 and 2009 Current Population Survey, and compare findings to May 2004 and 2005 data, a time of relative prosperity. Our results suggest that wives of husbands who stopped working during the recession were more likely to increase work hours (if they worked part-time), and more likely to commence or seek work (if they were out of the labor force). During the 2008-2009 recession years, the effect for wives entering the labor force is significantly greater than during the earlier years of relative prosperity.