Passionate | Experienced | Strategic

Can my job make divorce more likely?

On Behalf of | Oct 25, 2022 | Divorce

If you are going through a rocky patch in your marriage, you may think you are unique, alone in your marital problems. However, by some estimates marriages have over a 50% divorce rate.

This is why, when Washington residents are thinking about a divorce, they should not feel isolated.

In addition, depending on your career, you may have an even higher likelihood of divorce than average.

Jobs with the highest divorce rates

Unsurprisingly, the jobs with the highest divorce rates are in the military. Specifically, these include first-line enlisted military supervisors (30% divorce rate), military enlisted tactical operations and air weapons (17% divorce rate) and military generally (15% divorce rate).

While the data from the United States Census Bureau does not expound on reasons for these higher rates, we all know the stressors of military service, high stress, long-periods away from the family and higher rates of physical and mental disabilities due to injuries sustained during their service. These factors can make military marriages incredibly difficult.

Other jobs with high divorce rates

Jobs in the medical field also have high divorce rates, like medical assistants (14%), medical and health services managers (13%) and nurse anesthetists (12%).

Skilled tradespeople also have higher divorce rates, like carpenters (13%), automotive service technicians and mechanics (17%), food preparation and food service workers (15%), animal caretakers (15%) and laborers (13%).

Common attributes

Nearly all jobs with high divorce rates are high-stress jobs with long hours that are physically intensive.

These jobs can take a mental and physical toll on workers. This, in turn, has an effect on their marriage.

How? It is extremely hard to be present when you are in pain. It is extremely hard to spend quality time with your spouse when you are stuck at work.

And, many of these jobs pay very little. Finances are one of the most common reasons cited for a divorce, so an already stressful and painful job, combined with financial turmoil can lead to a divorce.