It is often reported that an American marriage has over a 50% chance to end in divorce. But what many people may not know is that, according to the U.S. Census Data and career website Zippia, by age 30, your divorce chances are different depending on your job.
Who has the highest divorce rates?
Enlisted military supervisors have some of the highest divorce rates, with 30% of their marriages ending in divorce before age 30. These supervisors manage and lead other enlisted military service members.
The data does not explain why these jobs are associated with divorce, but reasons may include the long time away from family and the high stress from deployments, along with the other psychological effects particular to the military.
This is probably why military enlisted tactical operations and air weapons personnel have about a 17% divorce rate and military service members generally at about a 15% rate.
Work pressures and time away from family
Military service members, regardless of their position, have a high stress job that takes them away from their families for extended periods of time. It is no wonder then why they have the highest divorce rates.
Any high stress job that takes you away from your family for long periods can contributie to higher divorce rates. For example, many jobs in the medical field have a 15% divorce rate. These jobs are also characterized by high stress and long hours.
What to keep in mind
Of course, your career choice is not a guarantee of divorce, even if you are in the military. However, for those in a high-divorce career, you should remember that your job can affect your marriage.
Be mindful of that fact and do what you can to keep your marriage strong. And, if you already notice the signs of divorce in your marriage, it is never too late to talk with your spouse and seek family counseling.
