The relationship between marital status and employment in South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: Marriage formalises gender roles in society and as such has a significant impact on the labour force. The institution does, however, change over time, which makes it important to continually assess the impact that it has.

Research purpose: In this article, the impact of marital status on employment is gauged.

Motivation for the study: Marriage is arguably one of the most engrained institutions in modern society. Understanding the link between the marriage institution and employment could be essential in understanding the social and economic externalities that policy could have.

Research design, approach and method: Logistic regressions are used to analyse what the relationship between different marital statuses and employment is.

Main findings: The findings show that women are least likely to be employed when they are married, whereas men are most likely to be employed when they are married.

Practical/managerial implications: Marriage clearly influences the labour market outcomes of women differently than those of men. This is an important certitude, especially for policy-makers who have to consider how their policies will differently affect men and women, and thereby how those policies will either work against or for gender equality.

Contribution/value-add: This article attempts to uncover the link between marital status and employment in South Africa and thereby realise the potential implications of changes in marriage patterns on employment patterns.