Canada – 69% of couple families with at least one child under 16 were dual-earner families

This paper examines the employment patterns of families with children (under the age of 16) over the period from 1976 to 2014, with a particular focus on couple families with children. This article also highlights regional differences in the working patterns of parents and provides additional information on the employment patterns of lone parents.

• In 2014, 69% of couple families with at least one child under 16 were dual-earner families, up from 36% in 1976. Among dual-earner families, almost three-quarters had two parents working full time in 2014.
• In 2014, single-earner families made up 27% of all couple families with children, down from 59% in 1976. Families with two non-working parents accounted for 4% of couple families with children in 2014 (compared with about 6% in 1976).
• Among the 27% of single-earner families, 16% had a stay-at-home mother and 2% had a stay-at-home father. Others (9%) had a parent that was either unemployed, attending school or permanently unable to work.
• Regionally, Alberta had the lowest proportion of dual-earner families in 2014 (65% of couple families with children), while Saskatchewan (74%) and Quebec (73%) had the highest. Alberta also had the highest proportion of families with a stay-at-home parent (26% of couple families with children).
• Stay-at-home mothers had lower levels of education, had more children under 16 and were younger than working mothers. Stay-at-home fathers had lower levels of education, had fewer children, and were older than their working counterparts.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Employment patterns of families with children.