NATIONAL CENTER Series 21 

For HEALTH STATISTICS Number 2 

VITAL and HEALTH STATISTICS 

DATA FROM THE NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM 

DemographicCharacteristics 

of PersonsMarriedBetween 

January1955andJune1958 

United fi~~~ States mpppmz

Pw3ut’?+[ :,:s-NJ@JcH

Em-LIHf/+L Llmy 

Age at marriage and marriage order of husbands 

crrd wives married from January 1955-June 1958, 

bv color, , residence, , husband’s occupation and 

s(aiws as head of house ho Id, and status of wife in 

the labor force. Data on couples living in June 

1958 in households inc Iuded in nationwide survey. 

Washington, D .C. Apri I 1965 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

Public Health Service HEALTH, EDUCATION , AND WELFARE 

AnthorIy J. Celebrezze Luther L. Terry 

Secretary Surgeon General 
. . . . . i ., ,., 

. ,..:*{ \ ,< 

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000-Series 21-No. 2 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D. C., 20402- Price 35 cents 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

FORREST E. LIND13R, PH. D., Director 

“rHEODORED. WOOLSFX, Dejwy Director 

0. K.SAGEN,PH.D.,~$si~tant Director 

W.U.TR.SIMMON’S,MA.,staththa~ AdviJor 

.U.ICEx4.W,4TERHOUE, M.D.,Medical Advi~or 

JAMES E.KELLY,D.D,S.,Dental Advi~or 

LOUISR.STOLCIS, MA.,flxecutive Ojicer 

DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS 

ROBERTD. GROVE, PH. D., Chief 

AXDERS S. LUXDE, PH. D., Assisiant Chief 

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000-Series 21-No. 2 

Library o/Congress Card Nunzber 65-60050 
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CONTENTS . 

Page 

Source of Data -------------------------------------------------------- 1 

Differences in Marriage.Estimates-----------------,--------------------- 1 

Age mdMrriage Order 2 

Distributions by Age and Marriage Order of Spouse 4 

Distributions by Residence and Color 5 

Status of Husband as Head of Household 8 

Occupation of Husband and Labor Force Status of Wife 9 

Age” and Marriage Order by Occupation of Husband---- 10 - 

Employment Status of Wife ------------------------------------------ 11 

Occupational Distributions of Husbands by Marriage Order 14 

figMights 17 

Detailed Tables 21 

Appendix I. Technical Notes on Methods--:----------------------------- 40 

Age at Marriage 40 

Medians of Computed Ages at Marriage 40 

Sample Design and Estimation Procedure 40 

Reliability of the Estimates 40 

Appendix II. Definitions of Certain Terms Used in This Report 42 

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SYMBOLS 

Data not available 

Category not applicable . . . 

Quantity zero -

Quantity more than Obutless than 0.05---- 0.0 

Figure doesnot meet standards of * reliabilityor precision 
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DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF 

PERSONS MARRIED 

BETWEEN JANUARY 1955 AND JUNE 1958 

Carl E. Ortmeyer, Division of Vital Statistics 

The purpose of the present report is to de- addition to that secured for others in the Survey: 

scribe and analyze the principal demographic 1. Is this a married man living with his wife? 

characteristics of couples married during the 2. If the answer to the above question was “yes, ” 

3% years from January 1955-June 1958. in what year were (the couple) married? 

The analysis is focused on variations in the 3. If date of marriage was on or after January 1, 

distributions of first and remarriages and of age 1955, 

at marriage, by residence (region and farm vs. a. where did (the couple) get married? 

nonfarm), color, and status of husband as head of b. where was (husband, wife) living at time of 

household, as well as by occupational status of marriage? 

husband and employment status of wife. The data c. is this (husband’s, wife ‘s) first marriage? in the report, secured from a nationwide sample 

of recently married couples, supplement statistics DIFFERENCES IN MARRIAGE 

obtained from marriage certificates, which are ESTIMATES 

available from about two-thirds of the States. The 

report itself relates statistics usually tabulated Based on the sample of households interfrom these certificates (age, marriage order, and viewed in June 1958, the estimated total number 

color) to key socioeconomic characteristics. of recently married couples was 3,692,000 (table 

1). (Estimates of totals when cited in the text are 

rounded to thousands. ) Of these 3.7 million couSOURCE OF DATA ples 1,061,000 were married in 1957, 1,091,000 

in 1956, 1,097,000 in 1955, and 443,000 during the 

The present study is based on a special sur- first 6 months of 1958. 

vey for the National Office of Vital Statistics The number of marriages performed in the 

(NOVS). Field work was done by the Bureau United States during this period, as estimated 

of the Census under special arrangements with from marriage records, was as follows: 

NOVS . Mawiages Data were collected from respondents in performed sample households interviewed in the June 1958 

Current Population Survey of the United States. 

nll~~intio ..7 . . . ..L.A ~..+ .~ 1 A Total 5,324,700 

1958 1690,700 

1957 1,518,(300 

1956------------------------ 1,585,000” 

1955 1,531,000 

lEstimated by multiplying the 1958 U.S. total by the ratio of 

January-June marriages to all 1958 marriages in a group of 39 reporting States. 

1 
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The estimated 3,692,000 recently married couples 

for the period January 1955-June 1958 constitute 

69 percent of the estimated number of marriages 

performed during the same period. 

The numbers of recently married couples 

and of marriages performed are estimated totals 

of two different populations. It is necessary to 

avoid confusing the two when analyzing demographic characteristics of the couples-’ in this 

study and those of brides and grooms, which are 

tabulated and published by the National Center for 

Health “Statistics (NCHS) using data from marriage 

certi~icates (records). 

The’main differences between the two populations in tekms of subgroups included in one and 

not the other’ are listed below: 

Recently 

married Marriages 

Subgroup couples performed 

Couples married during the period 

but legally separated or divorced Not 

before the Survey----------------- included Included 

Couples married during the period, 

one or both of whom died before Not 

the Survey included Included 

Only last AU 

Persons mar’riedmnre than once msrriage marriages 

during the period----------------- included included 

Couples married during the period 

and still married, but not living 

in the same household at the time Not 

of the Survey--------------------- included Included 

Couples married during the period 

whose marriages were arundled Not 

before the Survey----------------- included Included 

Counted as 

number of 

ceremonies 

Couples for whom more than one Coumted for which 

marriage ceremony was performed as one licenses 

during the period----------------- couple were issued 

Couples married under common law Not 

only------------------------------Included. included 

The analysis of the data in this report does 

not include estimates of the sizes of these subgroups, since such an undertaking would fall outside the scope of the present report. However, 

results are available of a careful study of the 

differences between estimates of the total number 

of men and women married during an immediately preceding period (January 1950-April 1953) 

based on data from sample households in a monthly 

.Current Population Survey (CPS) and estimates of 

the number of brides and grooms based on marriage records.1 

Investigators found that the number of women 

married during this period, when estimated from 

the CPS sample, was 86 percent of the e’stimate 

from marriage records, while the sample estimate 

of men married during the same period was only 

79 percent. Exclusion from the sample of members 

of the Armed Forces living in barracks and stationed overseas accounted for most of this discrepancy. The investigators cited estimates for 

four lesser sources of discrepancy between sample and record-count estimates, but found that 9 

percentage points of each difference remained 

due to several unquantifiable sources of error in 

the record counts and sample enumerations. A 

separate comparison of marriage-order and age-

..- at-marriage rates by sex based on CPS sample 

and record-count data showed similarities in these 

variables despite differences in area coverage. 

AGE AND MARRIAGE ORDER 

Distributions of age at marriage by reported 

year of marriage are shown in table 1 for 2,983,000 

husbands and 2,95 ~,000 wives married for the first 

time and for the 697,000 husbands and 733,000 

wives whose last marriages during this 3%year 

period were remarriages. Percent distributions 

are shown in table A. Among the first married, 

the proportion of husbands (15 percent) who married at ages 14-19 years was only one-third the 

proportion of wives (45 percent) married at these 

ages. On the other hand, 11 percent of these husbands but only 6 percent of these wives were 30 

years or older at marriage. Among the remarried, 25 percent of the husbands and 34 percent 

of the wives were in the age group 14-29, whereas 

25 percent of these husbands but only 17 percent 

of these wives were 50 years of age and over when 

married. 

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Table A. Percent distribution of marriages, by age at marriage of husband and of wife 

according to”marriage order and year of marriage: United States, January 1955-June 

1958 

Year of marriage 

Marriage order of husband and of wife and age 

at marriage 

Husband 

First marriage 

14-19 years 

20-21 years 

22-24 years 

25-29 years 

30-34 years 

35+ years 

Remarriage 

14-29 years 

30-34 years 

35-39 years 

40-49 years 

50+ years 

Wife 

First marriage 

14-17 years 

18-19 veals 

20-21 bears 

22-24 years 

25-29 years 

30+ years 

Remarriage 

14-29 years 

30-34 years 

35-39 years 

40-49 years 

50+ years 

Total 1958 1957 1956 1955 

Percent distribution 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

15.4 11.9 15.7 15.0 16.8 

22.1 26.7 22.5 24.0 18.3 

27.7 22.3 24.7 27.4 32.6 

23.5 26.0 25.2 21.5 23.0 

6.0 5.2 6.5 6.9 

5.3 7.9 5,5 5.1 ::; 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

24.6 18.5 23.6 23.1 32.5 

14.2 17.0 10.3 14.8 16.2 

13.7 14.5 12.5 12.8 16.0 

22.3 20.5 28.8 19.6 18.5 

25.2 29.5 24.8 29.6 16.7 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

19.0 13.2 19.4 19.2 20.4 

26.3 30.1 24.9 24.9 27.7 

23.0 20.8 21.5 25.9 22.2 

16.9 16.0 18.0 15.9 17.1 

I 9.2 11.6 9.5 8.5 8.8 

5.6 8.3 6.7 5.5 3.7 

100.0 100.0 100.0 -100.0 100.0 

34.1 21.4 40.4 34.0 34.0 

17.2 13.9 16.7 13.9 24.4 

14.5 18.6 10.9 12.4 19.5 

17,.4 24.9 17.0 20.9 

16.8 21.1 1 14.9 18.7 It; 

Source: Table 1. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from 

computations. 

3 
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Distributions by Age and the 492,000 couples both of whom were remarried, 

Marriage Order of Spouse 83 percent of the husbands and 74 percent of the 

wives were 30 years of age or older when marOf the 2,742,000 couples both of whom were ried. 

in their first marriages, 17 percent of the hus- Median ages at marriage (the age above and 

bands and 47 percent of the wives were aged 14-19 below which fail equal numbers of ages at maryears when married (table 2). However, 9 percent riage of persons in the specified group) of firstof the husbands and only 4 percent of the wives married couples were 20.3 years for wives and 

were 30 years or older at marriage. 23.1 years for husbands (table B). The distance 

As expected, the ages of husbands and wives in years between ages at the first quartile and 

in couples one or both of whom were remarried at the third quartile is a measure of the range of 

were older than the ages of first-married couples a distribution of ages at marriage. The age at 

(table 3). Out of the 205,000 first-married wives first quartile is older than one-fourth and younger 

whose husbands were remarried, 25 percent were than three-fourths of all ages at marriage in the 

30 years or older at marriage, but 49 percent of specified group; the age at the third quartile is 

the 240,000 previously married wives whose hus- older than three -fourths and younger than onebands were married for the first time belonged fourth of all such ages. Hence, the ages falling 

to this age group. Of the first-married husbands between these two quartiles are the middle onein these 240,000 couples, 42 percent were 30 half of the age distribution. Wives in the firstyears or older; 58 percent of the 205,000 remar- married couples, who had a first quartile age of 

ried husbands of first-married wives were 30 18.4 years and a third quartile of 22.9 years, had 

years or older when last married. Finally, among a range of 4.5 years of age during which oneTable B. Median age with first and third auartiles of husband and of wife for sDecified L 

~ge of spouse: United St~tes, January 1955 -Jun’e 1958 

Specified First Median Third Specified First Third 

age of quartile quartile age of quartile ‘edian quartile husband wife 

First First 

ma=e Age of wife ma-e Age of husband 

All ages- 18.4 20.3 22.9 All ages 20.7 23.1 26.4 

14-19 years- 15.9 17.8 19.2 14-17 years- 17.4 20.4 22.3 

20-21 yeara- 18.0 19.4 20.9 18-19 years- 20.2 21.7 23.9 

22-24 years- 18.9 20.5 22.4 20-21 years- 21.3 23.2 25.7 

25-29 years- 20.3 22.5 25.2 22-24 years- 23.0 24.8 27.9 

30+ years 23.0 27.5 30+ 25+ years--’- 26.3 29.0 30+ 

Remarriage Remarri,age 

All ages- 29.2 38.1 40+ All ages-- 32.9 42.7 53.1 

14-29 years- 19.3 24.7 30.1 14-29 years- 22.0 30.1 37.0 

30-39 years- 25.0 32.7 37.7 30-39 years- 32.7 38.4 46.2 

40-54 years- 34.3 40+ 40+ 40+ years--- 45.1 53.5 55+ 

55+ years 40+ 40+’ 40+ 

Source: Tables 2 and 3. Cases for which marriage order was not atated were excluded 

from computations. 

4 
half of them were married. Their husbands, who 

had a first quartile age of 20.7 years and a third 

quartile age of 26.4 years, had a range of 5.7 

years-greater by 1.2 years than the range for 

wives. Among first-married couples, husbands 

who married at the peak ages, 20-21, chose 

wives with an interquartile age range of 2.9 years, 

while wives who married at the peak ages, 18-19, 

chose husbands with an age range of 3.7 years 

(table 2). (The peak ages are the two age intervals 

having the largest number of husbands or wives 

for each age-year.) The age range for wives whose 

husbands were aged 22-24 years was 3.5 years, 

and for those whose husbands were aged 25-29 

it was 4.9 years. Husbands with wives aged20-21 

had an age range of 4.4 years; those with wives 

aged 22-24 had a range of 4.9 years. As the age 

at first marriage of either husband or wife increased beyond the peak age, the age rangeof the 

partner also increased. However, atallagelevels 

the age range of husbands was greater than that 

of wives. At equivalent age levels the men married 

partners who not only were younger (median age) 

but also had a narrower range of ages than did 

the women’s partners. 

For couples in which both were remarrying, 

the interquartile age range for all wives was at 

least 10.8 years (exact computation was not possible because the third quartile falls in the openend interval 40 years and over), while that for all 

husbands was 20.2 years. The range in age of wives 

whose husbands were aged 14-29 was 10.8 years; 

that of husbands with wives aged 14-29 was 15.0 

years. On the other hand, the age range of wives 

whose husbands were in the older category, 30-39, 

was 12.7 years, almost as long an interval as 

the 13.5- year range of husbands with wives aged 

30-39. 

Distributions by Residence and Color 

The proportion of husbands entering first 

marriages (tables C and 4) was 81.1 for the entire group. It was largest in the Northeast (87.2 

percent) and smallest in the West (70.8 percent), 

with intermediate percents in the North Central 

(83.4) and the South (79.9). The proportions of 

wives marrying for the first time differed from 

those of husbands by 1 percentage point or less in 

the United States and in all regions except the 

West, where 68.0 percent of all wives were married for the first time. 

Median age at first marriage of husbands 

(tables D and 4) was highest in the Northeast 

(24.3 years), almost the same in the North Central 

(23.2 years) and West (23.3 years), and lowest in 

the South (22.6 years). Median age of wives at first 

marriage showed similar differences among the 

regions, being highest in the Northeast (21.3 

years), equal in the North Central and West (20.4 

years), and lowest in the South (19.5 years). Thus 

the Northeast Region as characterized in these 

data showed the highest proportion of first marriages combined with the highest median ages at 

first marriage. Highest proportions of remarriages were found in the West, a region which 

includes several States with relatively high divorce rates, but the lowest median ages at first 

marriage were found in the South. 

The median age of husbands at remarriage 

was 39.1 years for the Nation, with regional medians of 42.0, 41.1, 38.2, and 37.2 in the Northeast, North Central, South, and West, respectively. 

The median age of wives at remarriage was 34.6 

years for the United States, with the Northeast 

again having the highest regional figure, 36.6 

years. The West followed with a median of 35.6 

years, then the South, with 34.1 years, and finally 

the North Central, where the median was 33.2 

years. It may be that variation in proportions of 

the remarried whose preceding marriage ended in 

divorce and those who were widowed accounts 

for part of the differences in age at remarriage, 

since of course the widowed had an older age 

distribution than the divorced. 

As expected, most of the median ages at first 

marriage and at remarriage for white husbands 

and wives were about equal to corresponding figures for all husbands and wives. The greatest 

difference was found in the Northeast, where the 

median age at remarriage of all husbands (42.0 

years) was less by 2.8 years than the median for 

white husbands. 

For the United States 77.8 percent of nonwhite husbands and 77.4 percent of nonwhite wives 

included in this study were married for the first 

time (tables C and 6). For husbands this percent 

(79.6) was higher in the South than in the remainder of the Nation (75.1); for wives the percent of 

5 766-3000 -65-2 
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Table C. Percent distribution of marriages, by marriage order of husband”an’dof wife 

according to color and region of residence at marriage: United States, January 1955- 

June 1958 

Region af residence at marriage 

Marriage order and color of husband 

and of wife 

Tots-l North- North South West east Central 

Husband I Percent distribution 

All marriages 100.0 I 100.’0 I 100.0 

HP 

First marriage 81.1 I ;3.; 83.4 79.9 70.8 

Remarriage I 18.9 . 16.6 20.1 29.2 

White-------------------------H+ 

First marriage 81.4 I 87.6 

Remarriage I 18.6 12.4 

Nonwhite 110(-);0 100.0 >? 

+++ 

First marriage 77.8 * 175.1 79.6 7’< 

Remarriage 22.2 * 124.9 20.4 

Wife 

First marriage

All marriages 

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80.1 87.5 

Remarriage 19.9 12.5 

First marriage 82.9 

Remarriage mt= 17.1 

79.7 

20”.3 

67.9 

32.1 

Nonwhite 100.0 * 1100.0 100.0 I $< 

First marriage 77.4 * 179.4 76.1 * 

Remarriage 22.6 9< “120.6 23.9 * 

lIncludes figures for’Northeastand West Regi,ons. 

White------------------------- 100.0 I 100.0 I 100.0 

Source: Tables 4, 5, and 6. Cases for which marriage order was not stated wereex- clud,edfrom computations. 

firstmarried was lower intheSouth(76.1) than 

intheremainderoftheNation(79.4 ). 

Medianageatfirstmarriagewas 23.0years 

(36.0yearsatremarriage)fornonwhitehusbands 

and 20.1 years at firstmarriage fornonwhite 

wives (34.1years at remarriage)in the Nation 

as awhole.The medianageatfirst marriagefor 

both nonwhitehusbandsand wives was slightly 

lower in theSouththaninthe remainderofthe 

Nation,butmedianage atremarriagewas somewhat higher.Among the age groups shown for 

thefirstmarried (table6) therewas amarked 

relative excess ofwivesaged 14-17yearsinthe 

Southand ofwivesaged20-21yearsintheother 

regions. 

Comparisonswere alsomade (tables 5and6) 

ofmarriageorder,age atfirst marriage,andage 

atremarriageofwhiteandnonwhitehusbands and 

wivesfortheSouthandforallotherregions. The 

most marked differences were foundbetweenthe 

6 

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Table D. Median age at marriage, by marriage order of husband and of wife, color, and 

region of residence at marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958 

Region of residence at marriage 

Marriage order and color of husband 

and of wife 

Total IINorth- North 

east 1“Central I South I West 

HUSBAND 

All marriages 

First marriage 

“Remarriage 

White 

First marriage---------------------- Remarriage 

Nonwhite 

First marriage---------------------- Remarriage 

WIFE 

All marriages 

First marriage---------------------- Remarriage 

White 

First marriage 

Remarriage 

Nonwhite 

First marriage---------------------- Remarriage 

. 

Median age 

23.4 24.3 23.2 22.6 23.3 

39.1 42.0 41.1 38.2 37.2 

23.4 24.4 23.3 22.5 23.2 

39.8 44.8 42.0 38.7 36.9 

23.0 * 123.3 22.7 * 

36.0 * 135.1 37.0 * 

20.4 21.3 20.4 19.5 20.4 

34.6 36.6 33.2 34.1 35.6 

20.4 21.3 20.5 19.6 20.2 

34.6 37.2 33.3 33.9 35.8 

20.1 * 121.2 19.3 * 

34.1 * 132.0 35.3 * 

‘Includesfigures for Northeast and West Regions. 

Source: Tables 4, 5, and 6. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were ex- cluded from computations. 

distributions ofage atfirst marriageofnonwhite 

wives and of whitewivesintheSouth.Whilethe 

median age of nonwhitewives (19.3years)was 

only slightly under thatfor whitewives (19.6 

years),theproportionsofwivesaged14-17,22-24, 

and 25 and overwerehigherfornonwhitesthanfor 

whites,buttheproportion aged 18-21was higher 

forwhites.Ineffect,more ofthewhitewives marriedin theshortspanofages,18-21,whilenonwhitesmarriedovera longerage span. 

Age at marriage and marriage order were 

alsoclassified by farm or nonfarmresidenceof 

thecoupleatthesurveydate(table 7).Thiscornparisonrevealedtwonotabledifferences between 

median marriage ages of couplesresidingon 

farms and thosewithnonfarmresidences.Among 

first-marriedcouples,the survey showed that 

husbandsand wives livingon farms marriedat 

youngeragesthanthosewithnonfarmresidences. 

The median ages atfirst marriageoffarm hus7 
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bands and wives were only 21.9 and 19.0, respectively, compared with medians of 23.4 and 20.5 

for nonfarm husbands and wives (table E). 

Both husbands and wives living on farms were 

older at remarriage than their nonfarm counterparts, but the outstanding difference between the 

distributions for age at last marriage occurred 

among wives. Whereas over 45 percent of the 

wives in the farm couples were in their 40’s when 

they remarried, less than 35 percent of those not 

living on farms were remarried at 40 years of 

age or over. Whether this difference between the 

remarriage ages of farm and nonfarm couples is 

due to higher proportions of previously widowed 

among those living on farms or to longer durations 

of earlier marriages for those previously divorced 

cannot be determined from these data. 

Table E. Median age at marriage, by marriage order of husband and of wife and 

residence at survey date: United States, 

January 1955-June 1958 

Of the 3,296,000 couples in which the husbands were heads of their households, 80.2 percent of the husbands were married for the first 

time and 19.8 percent were remarried; among 

wives whose husbands were heads of households, 

78.9 percent were first married and 21.1 percent 

were remarried. However, of the 395,000couples 

in which the husbands were not heads of households, 88.1 percent of the husbands and 90.2 percent of the wives were married forthefirst time. 

First-married husbands who were headsof 

households were older in median age atmarriage 

(23.5 years) than those who were not heads of 

households (21.7 years). First-married wives 

whose husbands were heads of households were 

also older at marriage (20.6 years) than those 

married to persons not heads of households (19.2 

years). The differencesbetweenages atfirstmarriage of persons who were heads of households 

and those not heads of households were approximately equal for white and nonwhite husbands 

(table G), but the corresponding difference was 

greater for nonwhite than for white wives. 

The median age at marriage of remarried 

husbands who were heads of households was39.4 

years; for remarriedhusbandswhowere notheads ‘E’g’:’’’:e=ii=i= of households the median age was 35.6 years.

Corresponding median ages for remarriedwives 

I Husband Med”ian age 

Firat marriage 23.4 23.4 21.9 

Remarriage 39.1 38.8 42.6 

Wife I II I 

First marri.age 20.4 20.5 19.0 

Remarriage 34.6 34.5 36.2 

Source: Table 7. Cases for which mar- riage order was not stated were excluded 

from computations. 

Status of Husband as Head of Household 

Another characteristic which the Survey determined was thenumber ofrecentlymarriedhusbands who were heads of theirown householdsand 

the number of husbands who were not heads of 

households at the time of the Survey (tables 8,9, 

F,and G). 

whose husbands were heads of households andfor 

wives whose husbands were not heads of households were 34.9 and 28.4 years. Among remarried white husbands and remarried white wives, 

the differences in median ages when the husband 

was head of the household and when he was not 

head of the household weresimilarto corresponding differences for all remarried husbands and 

wives. 

In the case of nonwhite remarried husbands 

and to a lesser degree wives, these differences 

in median ages were smaller. The medians were 

36.3 years for nonwhite husbands who were heads 

of households and 34.5 years for those not heads 

of households. Fornonwhitewiveswhose husbands 

were heads of households, themedian agewas34.3 

years, but for wives whose husbands were not 

heads of households, it was only 29.0 years. 

8 

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Table F. Percent distribution of marriages, by marriage order of husband and of wife 

according to year of marriage and household status of husband at survey date: United 

States, ~anuaky 1955-June 1958 

Year of marriage 

Household status of husband and marriage order 

of husband and of wife 

Total 1958 1957 1956 1955 

All marriages Percent distribution 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Husband-head of household 89.3 82.6 85.9 90.8 93.8 

Husband-not head of household 10.7 17.4 14.1 9.2 6.2 

Husband-head of household 

Marriage order of husband —-100.0 , 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

First marriage------------------------ 80,2 69.6 79.7 80.3 84.4 

Remarriage 19.8 30.4 20.3 19.7 15.6 

Marriage order of wife------------------ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

First marriage 78.9 69.2 74.2 81.0 84.4 

Remarriage 21.1 30.8 25.8 19.0 15.6 

Husband-not head of household 

Marriage order of husband 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

First marriage-------------------------------- 88.1 90.1 84.3 85.7 97.7 

Remarriage 11.9 9.9 15.7 14.3 2.3 

Marriage order of wife------------------ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

First marriage-------------------------------- 90.2 90.2 90.0 88.6 93.3 

Remarriage 9.8 9,8 10.0 11.4 6.7 

Source: Table 8. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from 

computations. 

OCCUPATION OF HUSBAND AND 

LABOR FORCE STATUS OF WIFE 

The conducting ofaninterview surveyoffereci 

a uniqueopportunity tosecuremorecompletedata 

on thecxcupations ofhusbandsandthelaborforce 

statusesof wives among theserecently married 

couplesthanareavailable on most marriagerecords,sinceon many marriagecertificates such 

dataareeithernotrequestedoraresecuredonly 

to a limiteddegree.The datafrom thisSurvey, 

presentedin tables10-16andH-0, are shown in 

severalperspectives. First,differences areanaIyzed in the distributions of major occupation 

groups of husbandsand of the laborforceand 

employment statusesof wives as relatedtothe 

demographicvariables, marriage order,age at 

firstmarriage, and age at remarriage.Next, 

variations arepresentedinmajor occupations of 

husbands and laborforcestatusesof wives by 

9 

I 
----------------------------- ---------------------------------

----------------------------- ---------------------------------

----------------------------- ---------------------------------

----------------------------- ---------------------------------

----------------------------- ---------------------------------

----------------------------- ---------------------------------

Table G. Median age at marriage, by marriage order of husband and of wife, color, and 

household status of husband at survey date: United States, January 1955-June 1958 

Household status of husband at survey date 

Marriage order and color of 

husband and of wife Head Not head Total of household of household 

HUSBAND 

Total Median age 

First marriage 23.4 23.5 21.7 

Remarriage 39.1 39.4 35.6 

White 

First marriage 23.4 23.5 21.8 

Remarriage 39.8 40.1 36.0 

Nonwhite 

First marriage 23.0 23.4 21.5 

Remarriage 36.0 36.3 34.5 

WIFE 

Total 

First marriage 20.4 20.6 19,2 

Remarriage 34.6 34.9 28.4 

White 

First marriage 20.4 20.5 19.4 

Remarriage 34.6 34.9 28.2 

Nonwhite 

First marriage 20.1 21.0 18.7 

Remarriage 34.1 34.3 29.0 

Source: Table 9. Cases for which marriage order waa not stated were excluded from 

computations. 

statusof thehusbandas headofa householdand 

by marriage order of both husband and wife 

(tables 13,14,L,andM).Finally, thedistributions 

of major wcupationsof husbandsare presented 

as theyvaryby marriageorder,color, andregion 

of residenceat marriage of the husband.In 

essence,then,these tablespresentthe same 

variablesdiscussedintheprecedingsection, but 

cross-tabulated by husbands’occupationsand 

wives’ labor force and employment statuses. 

Age and Marriage Order by 

Occupation of Husband 

Among couple sclassifiedby majoroccupation 

group of husband,themedian age atfirst marriageofhusbandswas highest(24.3years)among 

managers,officials, andproprietors,andwasnext 

highest(24.1years)forsalesworkersandforprofessional, technical, andkindredworkers.Itwas 

lowest(22.4years)for thecategories including 

10 
.-

-,

Table H. Median age at marriage, by major occupation group of husband at survey date

and marriage order of husband and of wife: United Sta&es, January 1955-June 1958

I Marriage order

Husband

Major occupation group of husband I

First Remarriage marriage

All occupation groups---------------

L

23.4

Professional, technical, and kindred

workers----------------------------------

Farmers and farm laborers-----------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers--------------

Sales workers-----------------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers---

Operatives and kindred workers------------

Service workers---------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine------------

Husband not in labor force----------------

24.1

22.4

24.3

23.5

24.1

23.8

22.5

23.6

22.4

23.2

Wife

I

First Remarriage marriage

I

Median age

39.1

36.5

43.4

42.2

36.3

39.2

38.3

31.5

41.9

38.5

50+

20.4

21.6

19.2

20.8

21.0

21.3

20.4

19.6

20.8

19.5

20.8

34.6

31.0

36.4

36.5

28.4

34.1

33.6

32;7

32.8

36.6

40+

Source: Table 10. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from

computations.

farmers,farm laborers,and laborersotherthan

farm andmine, and itwasnextlowest(22.5years)

for operativesandkindredworkers.The median

age at firstmarriageofwiveswasbighest(21.6

years)forthosemarryingprofessionalworkers,

nextbighest(!21.3 years)forthosemarryingsales

workers,lowest(19.2years)forthosemarrying

‘farmers,and nextlowest(19.5years)forthose

marryinglaborers.

Oldestagesatremarriageforhusbands,exceptthosenotinthelaborforce,werefoundwhen

these husbands were farmers, managers, and

serviceworkers.Youngestagesatremarriageoccurredwhen the husbandswere operatives,and

thenextyoungestwere foundinclericalandprosessionaloccupations.Oldestagesatremarriage

for wives were foundwhen thehusbandswere

laborers,managers,andfarmers (exclutighusbandsnot in thelaborforce);youngestagesoccurredwhen t$ehusbandswere clericalandprosessionalworkersaxloperatives.

Employment Status of Wife

The classification of wives by employment

status(tables10 and J) indicatesthat34.8percentofallwiveswere employedwhen theSurvey

was made and4.Opercentwereunemployed(seekingwork butnetworking).A totalof60.2percent

were notinthelaborforcebutwerekeepinghouse,

whilel.Opercentwere neitherinthelaborforce

nor keepinghouse,themajorityofthesebeingin

school.By major occupationgroups ofthehusb~ds, thepercentofwiveaemployedvariedfrom

44.9for wives whose husbandswere not in the

laborforceand 43.3forwivesofsalesworkers

down to28.0percentforwivesoffarmersand26.7

for wives of laborers.Percentsof unemployed

wivesvariedfrom5.5and5.4forwivesoffarmers

and laborersdown to 2.2percentfor wives of

husbandsnotinthelaborforce.Onlytrivialnumbersofunemployedwivesifany,due tosampling

variability, were marriedtomanagers.

11
The overallproportionofwivesinthelabor

forcewas lowestforhusbandswho were farmers

(33.5)andforthosewho were laborers(32.1),despitethelikelihoodthatman y incomesarelowin

these occupationalcategories.The percentsof

wivesinthelaborforcewere higherthanaverage

for allwhite-collaroccupationalcategoriesof

husbandsexcept managers, officials,and proprietors,possiblybecausethewivesinthesefamiliesare bettertrainedin occupationalskills.

(Thisisnottakingintoconsiderationwiveswhose

husbandswere not in thelaborforce,47.1percentof whom were themselvesmembers ofthe

laborforce.)

Median age at firstmarriage (tableK) was

23.7yearsforhusbandswhose wiveswere inthe

laborforceand slightlyless(23.1years)forthose

whose wives were not.Medianageatfirstmarriageofwivesinthelaborforce(21.1years)was”

more thanoneyearolderthanthat.offirst-marriedwives who were notinthelaborforce(19.8

years).In almostallcasesamong themajor occupationgroups,themedian ageofboththehusbandand ofthewifeatfirstmarriagewas younger

ifthewifewas not in thelaborforce.Thiswas

most marked when husbandswere farmers or

clericalworkers.Among farmers thesedifferences resultedchieflyfrom an unusuallylarge

number of young wives not in thelaborforce.

Among clericalworkers,on theotherhand,there

was a relativedeficiencyofyoungerwivesamong

couplesin whichthewifewas inthelaborforce.

Althoughfirst-marriedcouplesin’which the

wifewas in thelaborforcewere olderatmarTable J. Percent distribution of employment status of wife, by major occupation group

of husband at survey date: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Major occupation group of

husband

All occupation groupsProfessional, technical,

and kindred workers-----

Farmersand farm laborersManagers, officials, and

proprietors,except farmClerical and kindred

workers-----------------

Sales workers------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and

kindred workers---------

Operatives and kindred

workers-----------------

Service workers----------

Labore;s, except farm

and mme----------------

Husband not in labor

force-------------------

Employment status of wife

1

In labor force : Not in labor force ...

All t

wives Total Employed Unemployed

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.O

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

-38 8

41.5

33.5

34.2

43.2

48.3

37.4

37.7

43.7

32.1

47.1

Percent distribution

34,8

38.1

28.0

34.2

40.6

43.3

33.0

33.2

40.0

26.7

44.9

4.0

3.4

5.5

“2.6

5.0

4.4

4.4

3.8

5.4

2.2

-61 2

58.5

66.5

65.8

56.8

51.7

62.6

62.3

56.3

67.9

52.9

60.2

56.8

65.3

65.8

54.0

51,0

61.9

61.4

55.5

67.9

50.6

- 10

:::

-,

::;

0.7

0.9

0.8

2.3

Source: Table 10. Cases for which &mri_age order was not stated were excluded from

computations.

12
Table K. Median age at marriage, by major occupation group of husband at date of survey, labor force status of wife at survey date, and marriage order of husband and of

wife: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Labor force status of wife and major

occupation group of husband

Wife in labor force

All occupation groups---------------

Professional, technical, and kindred

workers----------------------------------

Farmers and farm laborers-----------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers--------------

Sales workers-----------------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers---

Operatives and kindred workers------------

Service workers---------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine------------

Husband not in labor force----------------

Wife not in labor force

All occupation groups---------------

Professional, technical, and kindred

workers-----------------------------------

Farmers and farm laborers-----------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers--------------

Sales workers-----------------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers---

Operatives and kindred workers------------

Service workers---------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine------------

Husband not in labor force----------------

Marriage order

Husband I

Wife

First

marriage 1- Remarriage m~~~~ge Remarriage

23.7

24.3

24.3

25.3

24.4

23.9

23.8

22.7

23.5

::.:

.

23.1

24.0

21.2

24.0

22.8

24.3

23.8

22.4

23.6

22.2

21.5

Median age

38.4

33.2

39.7

40+

36.6

37.9

3:%

3!:

38.7

34.5

40+

3:?

39.5

35.6

30.9

32?

40+

21.1

21.8

20.6

21.1

21.9

21.6

20.7

19.9

21.3

20.1

20.7

19.8

21.3

18.4

20.6

19.8

20.8

20.1

18.9

20.0

19.1

20.9

34.6

28.7

3n31.2

30.8

35+

35+

35+

Source: Table 11. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from

computations.

riagethanthosein which thewifedidnotwork, years).A..lso,remarriedhusbandsofwivesinthe

remarriedwiveswho were inthelaborforkehad laborforcewereyounger(38.4years)thanremara somewhat lower median age (34.2years)than riedhusbandswhose wives were notinthelabor

remarried wives not in the labor force(34.6 force(38.7years).

13

766-3000-65-3
Table L. Percent distribution of marriages, by major

date of survey accordingto marriage order of husband

of wife: United States, January 1955-June 1958

occupation group of husband at

and wife and labor force status

Labor force status of wife and major

occupation group of husband

Wife in labor force

.411occupation groups-----------------

Professional,technical, and kindred workersFarmers and farm laborers-------------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm--------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers----------------

Sales workers-------------------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers-----

Operatives and kindred workers--------------

Service workers-----------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine--------------

Husband not in labor force------------------

Wife not in labor force

All occupation groups------------------

Professional,technical,and kindred workers--

Farmers and farm laborers-------------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm---------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers----------------

Sales workers-------------------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers-----

Operatives and kindred workers--------------

Service workers-----------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine--------------

Husband not in labor force------------------

Marriage order of husband and wife

Both Wife Husband

first only only Both

married remarried remarried remarried

Percent distribution

100.0

1;.;

●

4.1

9*9

1;::

21.9

4.4

u

100.0

14.1

7.3

5.9

::;

16.5

24.2

1:::

1.6

100.0

1;::

1;:;,

1?::

19.3

10.8

10.6

1.6

100.0

10.9

4.5

5.4

5.1

2;:?

26.2

4.2

10.6

0.9

100.0

13.5

5.2

11.8

7.0

6.4

2::;

1;:;

1.5

100.0

2.5

6.8

13,0

2.5

2;::

23.9

1::;

5.9

100.O

6.7

4.4

8.2

H

22.8

24.5

8.1

9.8

6.3

100.0

9.8

6.7

9.2

::;

20.6

17.9

7.0

Source: Table 12. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from

computations.

Occupational Distributions of

Husbands by Marriage Order

In tableL theoccupationaldistributionof

husbands is shown for each marriage-order

combinationof husbandandwife.Operativesand

craftsmenwere thelargestproportionsin two

combinationswiththewifeinthelaborforceand

were thelargestinallfourcombinationswiththe

wifenot in thelaborforce.Comparisonsofthe

percentsamong thefourmarriage-ordergroups

show thefollowing:

1. First-marriedcouplesincludedrelatively

largepercentsofhusbandsinprofessionaloccupationswhetherthewifewasinthe

laborforceornot.Theyalsoincludedrelativelylargeproportionsofsales-worker

husbandswhose wives were inthelabor

force,and incoupleswiththewifenotin

thelaborforcetheyincludeda largeper14
cent of husbands who were farmers or

clerical workers.

2. Couples in which only the wife was remarried included relatively large proportions of husbands who were farmers, clerical workers, and service workers whose

wives were in the labor force, and large

proportions of sales workers, craftsmen,

and operatives whose wives were not in

the labor force.

3. Those couples in which only the husband

was remarried included relatively large

proportions of husbands who were managers and laborers whether the wife was

in the labor force or not. Husbands who

were operatives and whose wives were in

the labor force were also found in large

proportions.

4. Couples in which both partners were remarried included a relatively large percentof husbands not in the labor force,

whether the wife was in the labor force or

not. They also included a large proportion of craftsmen with wives in the labor

force and a large number of service workers” with wives not in the labor force.

By .Wdus of husband as head of household.—

Compared with husbands who were not heads

of households, large proportions of first-married

husbands who were heads of their households

(tables 13 and M) were professional and clerical

workers. Remarried heads of households, however, were relatively more often managers,

craftsmen, and men not in the labor force than

either first-married heads of households or husbands who were not heads of households. Firstmarried husbands who were not heads of their

households were more frequently farm workers

and laborers than were &st-married heads of

households, while remarried husbands who were

Table M. Percent distribution of raarriages, by major occupation group of husband at

survey date according to marriage order of husband and household status:

States,

United

January 1955-June 1958

Major occupation group of husband

All occupation groups ---------------

Professional, technical, and kindred

workers ----------------------------------

Farmers and farm laborers -----------------

Managers, officials, and proprietors,

except farm ------------------------------

Clerical and kindred workers --------------

Sales workers -----------------------------

craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers---

Operatives and kindred workers ------------

Service workers ---------------------------

Laborers, except farm and mine------------

Husband not in labor force----------------

Household status and marriage order

of husband

Head of household ]Not headof household

First 1“ Remarriage m~~~i~ge marriage Remarriage

100.0

15.7

6.0

5.7

9.8

1%;

23.1

4.2

9.8

2.6

Percent distribution

100.0

8.2

5.8

10.3

::;

19.9

21.2

7.3

10.0

9.0

1!::

2.5

;::

16.1

2;.;

19:6

2.2

6.0

5.5

3.3

3.1

1;::

38.6

;.;

3:3

Source: Table 13. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded from

computations.

15
Table N, Percent distribution of marriazes.bv labor force status of wife at

dat~ of-survey according to rnarri-age

order of wife and household status of

~~~$~8united States, January 1955-

Household status

of husband and

labor .fyyif~tatus

Husband-head of

household

Total -------

Wife in labor

force ------------

Wife not in labor

force ------------

Husband-not head

of household

Total -------

Wife in labor

force ------------

Wife not in labor

force ------------

Marriage order

of wife

First Remarriage marriage

Percent distribution

100.0 100.0

37.9 43.1

62.1 56.9

-

100.0 100.0

36.2 42.8

63.8 57.2

Source: Table 14. Cases for which msrri-age” order was not stated were excluded

from computations.

not heads of households were found tobe in the

operative and service-worker occupations with

relatively greater frequency. Larger proportions

of remarried than of first-married wives werein

the labor force, whether or nottheyweremarried

to husbands who were heads of households(tables

14and N).

By Yesidence and color.—The occupational

distributions ofhusbands (at thedateofsurvey) by

region of residence at marriage and by marriage

order are presentedas frequencies (table 15)and

percents (table O) for all husbands aswell as for

white and nonwhite husbands.

Professional work was the occupation of13.4

percent of all husbands and of 14.7 percent of

all first-married men, but only 8.1 percent of the

remarried husbands were professional workers.

In the West, both first-married and remarried

husbands included larger proportions ofprofessional workers than any other regionofresidence

at marriage. Relatively few remarried husbands

in the Northeast and North Central were in this

major occupation group. The South hadthesmallest percent offirst-married husbands unprofessional occupations, and this percent was approximately equal to that of remarried professional

husbands inthe South.

Representation of professional workers among white husbands by marriage order andby

region showed differences similar to those noted

for all husbands. Among all nonwhite first-married husbands, 5.8 percent were professional

workers; the regional percents were 3.3 in the

South and 10.6 in the remainder of the Nation.,

In contrast toprofessional workers, theproportion of allfirst-married husbands(5.4percent)

who were nonfarm managers, officials, and proprietors was little more than one-half the percent of this occupational group among the remarried (9.9). The highest percent (7.6) for the

first married was reported in the Northeast, and

the lowest percent (3.9) was in the North Central

Region. Among the remarried the largestproportion(15.5) inthis occupationwas foundinthe West,

the smallest proportion (6.0), inthe NorthCentral.

Median agesat both first and remarriage ofhusbands in this occupational category (table K)were

a year or more higher than medians for all husbands.

Almost one in 10 of all first-married husbands butonly3 .5percent of the remarried were

in clerical and related occupations. The highest

percent “of first-married (10.4) and the lowest

percent of remarried (2.5) husbandsin these ocpupations were found in the Northeast. Thesmallest percentof first-married (6.8) and the largest

percent ofrernarried (4.2) membersof thisgroup

were living in the West at the time of marriage.

Differences between percents in the other

major occupation groups of first-married andof

remarried husbands (table O) were notas great

proportionallyas thedifferencesdiscussed above,

with one exception —husbands in service occupations. The percent of the remarried in these

occupations (7.3) was 70 percent greater than

the corresponding percent (4.3) for the first

married.

16
Forty percent of all first-married husbands

and 42 percent of remarried husbands were craftsmen, foremen, operatives, and related workers.

Compared to the remarried, first-married husbands were found relatively most often to be

professional, technical and related workers, clerical and related workers, and sales workers;. conversely, the remarried were most often managers, officials and proprietors, craftsmen, fore- -

men, and related workers, and service workers.

By region of residence at marriage, the percent of first-married husbands who were sales

workers was highest in the North Centra~ the

percents who were in farming occupations and in

operative and related lines of work were highest

in the South, percents who were craftsmen, foremen, and related workers, and nonfarm laborers

were highest in the West; and the percent who

were service workers was highest in the Northeast.

The percents of remarried husbands who were

salesmen and craftsmen, foremen, and related

workers were highest in the Wesq the percent in

farming occupations was highest in the North Central, and percents in all three blue-collar categories of operatives, service workers, and laborers were highest in the Northeast.

Six of the nine occupational groups are distributed proportionally among white first-married

and white remarried husbands in percents approximating those for all husbands. Of the three occupation groups which include the largest overall percents of nonwhite husbands, operatives are

found in larger proportions among first-married

than among remarried nonwhite husbands, but in

almost equal proportions among first-married and

remarried white husbands. The farming occupations are represented in greater proportion among

remarried than among first-married white husbands, but the opposite is true for first-married

and remarried nonwhite husbands. Laborers, by

contrast, are found in greater proportions among

remarried than among first-married nonwhite

husbands; hence, the percent of white first-married husbands who were laborers (9.3) was over

60 percent greatet than the 5.7 percent of remarried white husbands who were laborers.

The overall picture for nonwhite husbands

as a group indicates that their occupations differ not only from those of white husbands, but

differ by marriage order. The white-collar occupational categories are represented with relatively greatest frequency among nonwhite firstmarried husbands residing outside the South at

marriage, except that managers, though not very

numerous among nonwhite husbands, are relatively most often found among remarried husbands outside the South. Nonwhite husbands who

are farmers and farm laborers are concentrated

in the South and among the first married, craftsmen are found relatively most frequently among

nonwhite husbands outside the South, particularly

among remarried husbands, while nonwhite hus -

bands who are operatives are found in higher proportions among the first married and in the South.

Nonwhite husbands who are service workers and

laborers are found in higher proportions among

the remarried, but in approximately equal proportions in the South and in the remainder of the

Nation.

HIGHLIGHTS

The estimated total of couples married between January 1955 and June 1958 was 3 ,692,000—

69 percent of the 5,324,700 marriages which

occurred in the Nation during the same period,

as estimated from marriage records. The latter

but not the former population includes marriages beginning and ending during the period and

couples married during the period who were not

living in the same household at the time of the

Survey. Statistics from the two populations may

be similar, but are not expected to be equivalent.

Median age at marriage (23.1 years) of husbands in couples in which both partners were

first married was almost 3 years higher than the

20.3-year median for their wives. The interquartile age range for these husbands was 5.7 years;

for wives, it was 4.5 years. For couples in which

both were remarried, the median age of husbands (42.7 years) at the most recent marriage

was more than 4 years older than the 38.1-year

median for their wives.

Just over 80 percent of all husbands and

wives were married for the first time. This

percent was largest for those living in the Northeast when married and smallest in the West. Median ages at first marriage were highest in the

.
Table O. Percent distribution of marriages, by major occupation group of husband a.t

of husband: United States,

Marriage order, region

of residence at

marriage, and color

of husband

All husbands------

First marriage----------

Northeast-------------

North Central---------

south-----------------

West------------------

Remarriage--------------

Northeast-------------

“ North Central---------

South-----------------

West------------------

white---------------

First marriage----------

Northeast-------------

North Central---------

South-----------------

,West------------------

Remarriage--------------

Northeast-------------

North Central---------

South-----------------

West------------------

Nonwhite------------

First marriage----------

South-----------------

All other-------------

Remarriage--------------

South-----------------

All other-------------

Major occupation group of husband

Professional, Managers,

All technical, Farmers and officialf,

occupation

groups

and kindred farm laborers ~:: proprleworkers except

tarm

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Percent distribution

13.4 I 6.5

14.7 6.7

I

17.9

16.1 ;:$

8.5 1(/:

19.3 .

14.41, 5.8

9.21 6.2

5.4

1::;

11.8

1;::

5.6

2.6

4.5 I 13.3

5.8 16.3

3.3 23.3

10.6 2.4

I 3.3

I

6.0

6.2

5.4

;.;

4:7

5.4

9.9

:::

10.0

15.5

6.8

5*9

H

5.9

5.3

10.8

:::

12.5

15.8

1.3

0.6

1.;

3.5

7.8

Source: Table 15. Cases for which marriage order was not stated were excluded

18
date of survey according to marriage order

January 1955-June 1958

, regioh of residence at marriage, and color

Major occupation group of husband

Clerical Craftsmen, Operatives Laborers, Husband

and Sales foremen, and Service

kindred

except not in

workers and kindred kindred workers farm and labor

workers workers workers mine force

Percent distribution

8.3 I 5.8 [ 17.4

9.4 I 6.0 I 16.9

10.4 6.3 17.6

9.8 “14.6

9.4 ;:: 15.3

6.8 4.9 22.9

3.5 I 4.9 / 19.8

2.5 15.4

;:; 20.1

::: 4.6 20.7

4.2 5.9 21.3

8.5 I 6.2 I 18.6

9.6 I 6.4 I 18.2

1;.; 18.2

::: 15.1

10:9 18.3

6.4 E:; 24.0

3.5 I 5.6 I 213.3

4.1 14.2

::; 5.5 19.6

4.2 5.8 23.0

3.6 6.3 21.8

6.4 1.8 6.8

7.3 2.3 3.9

3.5

14.8 H ::2

3.6 16.5

I

11.6

7.; 22.4

23.1 I 4.9 I 10.6 3.8

I

23.3 I 4.3 1 10’.8 2.6

,“

22.7

23.6 ::? 1:::

28.1

R

11.6 3.1

13.9 ::: 11.8 2.0

22.4 \ 7.3 I 9.4 I 8.7

28.7 10.5 11.9

26.2

11.3

4.3

18.0 J:?)

20.0

1;:;

H 7.6 4.7

22.8 4.3 8.7 3.8

22.8 3.8 9.3 2.6

22.2 5.5 8.9

23.7 3.4 9.9

27.8

u

13.5 ::: J:; H

23.0 I 6.6 I 5.7 I 9.1

28.8 11.6

28.0

12.5

3.8 ::;

16.8

1:.:

6.7 5.1

21.4 6.1 5.7 5:’0

25.7 9.81 27.4 ] 3.1

28.0 8.9 24.8 2.2

29.2 9.3 24.4

25.7

2.5

8.1 25.5 1.6

17.6 12.7 36.5 6.2

23.0 13.9 34.1

11.2

11.4

11.3 39.5

from computations.

19
Northeast and lowest in the South. Median ages

at remarriage for husbands varied from 42.0 in

the Northeast to 37.2 in the West; for wives, from

36.6 in the Northeast to 33.2 in the North Central

Region.

Proportions of first and remarriages for

white husbands and wives were about equal to

corresponding estimates for all husbands and

wives. In the South the proportion of nonwhite

husbands remarried was smaller than in the remainder of the Nation, but for wives it was larger.

First-married husbands were 3 years older in

median age than first-married wives. The median

age of remarried husbands was more than 4 years

greater than that of remarried wives. Median

ages of first-married husbands varied from the

24.3 years of those living in the Northeast when

married down to 22.6 years for those in the South.

Median ages at remarriage varied from 42.0 for

the Northeast to 37.2 for the West. Among wives,

median ages for both the first married and the

remarried were highest in the Northeasq they

were lowest for the first married in the South and

for the remarried in the North Central Region.

Among nonwhite husbands and wives, median ages

of the first married were younger and those of

the remarried were older in the South.

Median ages of the first married were younger

for farm than for nonfarm residents, but remarried farm residents were older at marriage.

The 11 percent of husbands who were not

heads of their households included a higher percent of first-married persons than did the headof-household category. Their median age at marriage was also lower whether they were first or

remarried.

Median age at marriage of first-married

husbands was oldest in the manager-officialproprietor occupations and youngest in farming

and in nonfarm laborer groups. First-married

wives were oldest when married to husbands in

professional-technical occupations, and youngest

when married to husbands in the farming occupations.

Comparisons of first-married couples with

remarried couples indicated that professional and

clerical workers were markedly overrepresented

among husbands in the former group, while managers, craftsmen, service workers, and husbands

not in the labor force were overrepresented in

remarried couples. Husbands in operative and laborer occupations were overrepresented among

the remarried couples if the wife was in the labor force, but among the first married if the wife

was not in the labor force.

Percents of wives in the labor force were

above average in couples with husbands not in

the labor force and in each of the white-collar

occupation groups. These percents were smallest

among wives of husbands in farming or nonfarm

laborer groups. In most occupation categories,

median ages for both husbands and wives at first

marriage were either equal to or lower when the

wives were not in the labor force than the median ages when they were. Median ages at remarriage were 0.3 years higher for husbands and 0.4

years higher for wives when the wife was not in

the labor force than when the wife was in the labor force. /

The West was characterized by high proportions of both first-and remarried husbands in professional-technical and craftsman-foreman occupations, as well as by bigher proportions than any

other region of remarried husbands in the four

white-collar categories. The Northeast Region led

in percents of first-married husbands in manager-official-proprietor and clerical groups as

well as in percents of remarried husbands in three

of the four nonfarm blue-collar groups, and of

those not in the labor force. The South showed a

higher proportion than any other region of firstmarried husbands in farming and operative work,

The North Central Region led all other regions

in proportions of first-married husbands in sales

work and in the small category “not in the labor

force. ” It also led in the proportion of remarried in farming occupations.

000

20
DETAILED TABLES

Page

22

23

Table 1.

2.

3.

Number of marriages, by marriage order and age at marriage of husband and of

wife and year of marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958-------------

Number of marriages, by age of husband at first marriage and age of wife at

first marriage: United States,,January 1955-June 1958------------------------

Number of marriages with one or both spouses remarried, by age of husband at

last marriage and age of wife at last marriage: United States, January 1955-

June l958--------------------------------------------------------------------- 23

4.

5.

Number of marriages, by marriage order and age at marriage of husband and of

wife and region of residence at marriage: United States, January 1955-June

l958-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

Number of marriages, by marriage order and age at marriage of white husband

and of white wife and region of residence at marriage: United States, January

1955-June l958---------------------------------------------------------------- 25

6. Number of marriages, by marriage order and age at marriage of nonwhite husband

andof nonwhite wife and region of residence at marriage: United States,January

1955-June l958---------------------------------------------------------------- 26

27

7.

8.

Number of marriages, by residence at date of survey and marriage order and age

at marriage of husband and of wife: United States, January 1955-June 1958----

Nufu~r of marriages, by household status of husband at date of survey,marriage

of husband and of wife, and year of marriage: United States, January

1955-June l958---------------------------------------------------------------- 28

9. Number of marriages, by household status of husband at date of survey,marriage

order and age at marriage of husband and of wife, and color: United States,

January 1955-June l958-------------------------------------------------------- 29

10. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, marriage order and

age at marriage of husband and of wife, and employment status of wife at date

of survey: United States, January 1955-June 1958----------------------------- 30

11. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, labor force status

of wife at date of suney, marriage order and age at marriage of husband and

of wife: United States, January 1955~June 1958------------------------------- 32

12.

13.

Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, labor force status

of wife at date of survey, and marriage order: United States, January 1955-

June l958--------------------------------------------------------------------- 34

Number of marriages, by household status and marriage order of husband at date

of survey and major occupation group of husband: United States, January 1955-

June l958--------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

37

14. Number of marriages, by household status of husband and labor force status and

marriage order of wife at date

1958----

of survey: United States, January 1955-June

---------------------------------------------- _---------------------- -

15. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband at date of survey,

marriage order and region of residence of husband at marriage, and color:

United States, January 1955-June 1958----------------------------------------- 38

7.56-300 0-65-4

21
Table 1. Number of uiarriages,by marriage order and age at marriage of husband and of wife and

year of marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Marriage order and age at marriage of

husband and of wife

All marriages----------------------

Husband

First marriage-----------------------

14-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years------------------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

35+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

35-39 years------------------------------

40-49 years------------------------------

50-54 years------------------------------

55+ years--------------------------------

Marriage order not stated------------

Wife

First marriage -----------------------

14-17 years------------------------------

18-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years------------------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29 years------------------------------

30+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage ---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

35-39 years------------------------------

40-44 years------------------------------

45-49 years------------------------------

50-54 years------------------------------

55?=years--------------------------------

Marriage order not stated------------

Year of marriage

Total 1958 1957 1956 1955

Number of marriages

3,691,560

1,982,730

459,980

659,570

826,090

700,500

178,660

157,930

697,030

171,760

98,860

95,820

155,130

55,010

120,450

11,800

2,951,270

559,900

777,240

678,940

498,660

272,180

164,350

732,940

250,250

126,110

106,520

80,350

46,930

46,990

75,790

7,350

442,610

323,900

38,590

86,530

72,210

84,130

16,830

25,610

118,710

21,960

20,230

17,200

24,290

1T,270

23,760

322,620

42,510

97,110

67,220

51,760

37,320

26,700

119,990

25,720

16,700

22,370

15>190

14,700

10,150

15,160

1,061,310

848,810

“133,020

191,280

209,630

213,590

55,020

46,270

208,030

49,070

21,410

25,940

60,010

11,180

40,420

4,470

808,750

156,670

201,490

174,260

145,810

76,730

53,790

249,680

100,960

41,660

27,260

32;430

10,140

14,830

22,400

2,880

1,090,760

876,340

131,820

210;470

240,030

188,450

60,440

45,130

208,460

48,100

30,940

26,710

40,910

22,6i0

39,130

5,960

889,070

170,930

221,080

230,690

141,480

75,780

49>110

198,660

67,620

27,610

24,730

22,390

19,160

10,440

26,710

3,030

,,096,880

933,680

156,550

171,290

304,220

214,330

46,370

40,920

161>830

52,630

26,280

25,970

29,92!0

9,890

17,140

1,370

930.830

189,790

257,560

206,770

159,610

82,350

34,750

164,610 .

55,950

40,140

32,160

10,340

2,930

11,570

llj520

1,440

22
Table 2. Number of marriages, by age of husband at first marriage and age of w~?teat first marriage: United States, January 1955-June1958

Age of wife at first marriage

Age of husband at

first marriage

Total 14-17 18-19 20-21 22-24 25-29

years years years years years

30+ years

. .

14-19

20-21

22-24

25-29

All ages-14+

years-------

years--------

years--------

years--------

vears--------

30+ yeArs----------

Number of marriages

7

2,741,610 541,490 733,660 637,560 469,970 245,720 113,210

455,010 240,460 163,510 43,360

638,120

7,680”

1;:,;(?); 237,720 181,110

787,270

48,270 14,02i

237,390 232,500

626,440

189,100

42;600

31,100 3>140

88,820 149,280 183,680 136,930 25,130

234,770 7,390 6,220 31,310 41,240 63,670 84,940

Table 3. Number of marriages with one or both spouses remarried, by age of husband at last marriage and age of wife at last marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Marriage order of husband and of wife and age of

husband at last marriage

Husband only remarried

All ages--------------------------------------

14-29 years ------------------------------------------

30-39 years-----------------------------------------

40+ years-------------------------------------------

Wife only remarried

All ages--------------------------------------

14-29 years -----------------------------------------

30-39 years -----------------------------------------

40+ years-------------------------------------------

Both svouses remarried

All ages--------------------------------------

14-29 years-----------------------------------------

30-39 years-----------------------------------------

40-54 years-----------------------------------------

55+ years-------------------------------------------

Marrisge order not stated

All ages--------------------------------------

Age of wife at last marriage

II I I

Total II 14-29

I

30-39 I

40+ years

years years

205.140

85,860

68,000

51,280

239,680

137,860

57,280

44,540

491,890

85,900

126,680

177,950

101,360

213,240

Number of marriages

154.000

84,170

60,770

9,060

121,470

100,110

18,150

3,210

128>780

64,080

45,860

17,410

1,430

4,520

151,140

11,690

17,230

142,220

1118,210

137,750

T39,130

141,330

143,910

18,850

63,140

61,920

1.37(

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

219,200

2,970

17,680

98,620

99,930

lWives “30+ years.”

21ncludes7,350 cases in which marriage order of wife was not stated.

23
Table &. Number of marriages,by marriage order and age at marriage of husband and of wife and

region of residenceat marriage: United States, January 1955-June1958

Marriage order and age at marriage

of husband and of wife

All marriages----------------------

Husband

First marriage-----------------------

14-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years------------------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

35+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

35-39 years ------------------------------

40-49 years------------------------------

50+ years --------------------------------

Marriage order not stated------------

Wife

First marriage-----------------------

14-17 years------------------------------

18-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years------------------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29.years------------------------------

30+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30~34 years------------------------------

35-39 years------------------------------

40-49 years------------------------------

50+ years --------------------------------

Marriage order not stated------------

Region of residenceat marriage

Total Northeast North

Central South West

Number of marriages

3,691,560

2,982,730

459,980

659,570

826,090

700,500

178,660

157,930

697,030

171,760

98,860

95,820

155,130

175,460

11,800

2,951,270

559,900

777,240

678,940

498,660

272,180

164,350

732,940

250,250

126,110

106,520

127,280

122,780

7,350

901,880

782,630

67,680

156,040

212,510

244,690

60,480

41,230

114,750

21,580

10,480

21,300

19,340

42,050

4,500

787.990

80,960

177,690

204,420

163,910

105,360

55,650

112.460

41,840

9,140

15,970

18,490

27,020

1,430

L,020,260

848,230

132,120

192,970

238,550

190,170

58,260

36,160

169,130

35,550

27,58;

16,940

38,120

50,940

2,900

839,540

129,610

244,830

206,010

150,260

62,310

46,520

179.270

72,330

27,090

10,140

37,150

32,560

1,450

1,131,200

899,920

197,950

203,480

247,070

172,210

35,820

43,390

226,880

61,670

31,980

31,340

48,610

53>280

4,400

889,960

246,500

258,270

175,940

101,100

60,500

47,650

236,770

76,390

50,810

49,350

25,090

35,130

4.470

638,220

451,950

62j230

107,080

127,960

93,430

24,100

37,150

186,270

52,960

28,820

26,240

49,060

29,190

433,780

102,830

96,450

92,570

83,390

44,010

14,530

204,440

59,69o

39,070

31,060

46,550

28,070

24
Table 5. Number of marriages,by marriage order and age at marriage of white husband and of white

wife and region of residence at marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Marriage order and age at marriage of

white husband and of white wife

All marriages ----------------------

White husband

First marriage -----------------------

14-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years------------------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29 years------------------------------

~,

30-34 years------------------------------

35+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years----------------i -------------

35-39 years------------------------------

40-49 years------------------------------

50+ years--------------------------------

Marriage order not stated------------

White wife

First marriage-----------------------

14-17 years------------------------------

18-19 years------------------------------

20-21 years---------?--------------------

22-24 years------------------------------

25-29 years------------------------------

30+ years--------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------------

14-29 years------------------------------

30-34 years------------------------------

=

Total

3,316,560

2,690,850

405,710

591,600

752,560

636,480

164,250

140,250

613,910

141,550

91,500

76,690

142>210

161,960

11,800

2,662,210

481,650

714,220

629,920

449,220

238,140

149,060

648,440

216,380

115,,990

85,350

114>620

116,100

5,910

Region of residence at marriage

Northeast I

North

Centra1

I

South I

West

Number of marriages

846,190

737.710

62,660

148,670

196,660

228,010

60,480

41,230

103,980

15,190

8,790

18,610

19,340

42,050

4,500

737.070

72,860

171,020

188,210

153,620

97,400

53,960

107,690

40,080

7,450

14,650

18,490

27,020

1,430

966,530

808.820

120,550

180,760

231,180

188,590

53,000

34,740

154,810

31,100

24,950

14,390

34,810

49,560

2,900

799.730

120,450

230,550

199,880

142,760

60,990

45,100

165,350

65,040

27,090

8,820

33,220

31,180

1,450

901,480

717.080

160,270

160,350

203,880

134,420

27,910

30,250

180,000

45,100

28,940

21,640

43,160

41,160

4,400

716.200

187,470

216,200

155,850

76,520

43,450

36,710

182,259

55,820

44,970

333730

16,360

31,370

3,030

602,360

427,240

62,230

101,820

120,840

85,460

22,860

34,030

175,120

50,160

28,820

22,050

44,900

29:190

409:210

100,870

96,450

85,980

76,320

36,300

13,290

193,150

55,440

36,480 .

28,150

46>550

26>530

25
Table 6. Number of marriages, by marriage order and age at marriage of nonwhite husband and”of

nonwhite wife and region of residence at marriage: United Statea, January 1955-June 195L? .

Marriage order and age at marriage of nonwhite

husband and of nonwhite wife

All

First

14-19

20-21

22-24

25-29

marriages--------------------------------

Nonwhite husband

marriage---------------------------------

years ----------------------------------------

years ----------------------------------------

years----------------------------------------

years----------------------------------------

30+-years------------------------------------------

Remarriage -------------------------------------

14-29 years----------------------------------------

30+ yeara------------------------------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------------

Nonwhite wife

First marriage---------------------------------

14-17 years----------------------------------------

18-19 years----------------------------------------

20-21 years----------------------------------------

22-24 years----------------------------------------

25-I-years------------------------------------------

Remarriage----------------’---------------------

14-29 years----------------------------------------

30+ years------------------------------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------------

Region of residence at marriage

Total South All

other regions

Number of marriages

375,000

291,880

54,270

67,970

73,530

64,020

32,090

83,120

30,210

52,910

289,060

78,250

63,020

49,020

49,440

49,330

84.500

33,870

50,630

1,440

229,720

182,840

37,680

43,130

43,190

37,790

21,050

46,880

16,570

30,310

173,760

59,030

42,070

20,090

24,580

27,990

54.520

20,570

33,950

1,440.

145;280

109,040

16,590

24,840

30,340 ~

26>230

11,040

36.240

13,640

22,600

115,300

19,220

20,950

28,930

24,860

21,340

29.980

13,300

16,680

26
Table 7. Number of marriages, by residence at date of survey and marriage order and age at marriage of husband and “ofwife: United States; January 1955-June 1958

Marriage order and age at marriage of husband

and of wife

All marriages --------------------------------

Husband

First marriage---------------------------------

14-19 years----------------------------------------

20-21 years----------------------------------------

22-24 years----------------------------------------

25-29 years---------------------------------------- -,

30+ years------------------------------------------

. .

Remarriage -------------------------------------

14-39 years----------------------------------------

40+ years------------------------------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------------

Wife

First marriage---------------------------------

14-17 years----------------------------------------

18-19 years----------------------------------------

20-21 yeara----------------------------------------

22-24 years----------------------------------------

25+ years------------------------------------------

Remarriage -------------------------------------

14-39 years----------------------------------------

40+ years------------------------------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------------

Residence

-=Q ‘onf=m ! ‘arm

Number of marriages

3,691,560

2,982,730

459,980

659,570

826,090

700,500

336,590

697,030

366,440

330,590

11,800

2.951.270

559,900

777,240

678,940

498,660

436,530

732,940

482,880

250,060

7.350

3,392,420

2,735,280

390,590

602>470

771,820

661,490

308,910

645.340

343,590

301,750

11,800

2.710.110

476,240

702,590

643,730

474,140

413,410

674,960

451,640

223,320

7.350

299,140

247.450

69,390

57,100

54,270

39,010

27,680

51.690

22,850

28,840

241,160

83,660

74,650

35,210

24,520

23,120

57,980

31,240

26,740

27
Table 8. Number of marriages, by household status of husband at date of survey, marriage order

of husband and of wife, and year of marriage: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Household status of husband and marriage

order of husband and of wife

All marriages

Total------------------------------

Husband-head of household----------------

Husband-not head of household ------------

Husband-head of household

First marriage of husband----------------

Remarriage of husband--------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------

First marriage of wife-------------------

Remarriage of wife-----------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------

Husband-not head of household

First marriage of husband----------------

Remarriage of husband--------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------

First marriage of wife-------------------

Remarriage of wife-----------------------

Marriage order not stated----------------

Year of marriage

Total 1958 1957 1956 1955

Number of msrriages

3,691,560

3,296,490

395,070

2,634,710

649,980

11,800

2,594,760

694,380

7,350

348,020

47,050

356,510

38,560

442,610

365,580

77,030

254,480

111,100

253,140

112,440

69,420

7,610

69,480

7,550

1,061,310

912,010

149,300

722,960

184,580

4,470

674,410

234,720

2,880

125,850

23,450

134,340

14,960

1,090,760

989,960

100,800

789,970

194,030

5,960

799,780

187,150

3,030

86,370

14,430

89,290

11,510

1.096,880

1,028,940

67,940

867,300

160,270

L,370

867,430

160,070

1,440

66,380

1,560

63,400

4,540

28
Table 9. Number of marriages, by household status of husband at date of survey, marriage order and age at marriage of

husband and of wife, and coIOr: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Marriage order and

age at marriage of

husband and of wife

All marriagesHuaband

Firat marriage--

14-19 years---------

20-21 yeara---------

22-24 years---------

25-29 years---------

30+ years-----------

Remarriage------

14-39 years---------

40+ years-----------

Marriage order

not stated-----

Wife

First marriage--

14-17 years---------

18-19 yeara---------

20-21 years---------

22-24 years---------

25-29 years---------

30+ yeara-----------

Remarriage------

14-39 years---------

40+ years-----------

Marriage order

not stated-----

Household status of husband at date of survey

Total Head of household Not head of household

Total White Nonwhite Total White Nonwhite Total white Nonwhite

Number of marriagea

3,691,560

2,982,730

459,980

659,570

826,090

700,500

336,590

697,030

366,440

330,590

11,800

Z,951,270

559,900

777,240

678,940

~ 498,660

272,180

164,350

732,940

482,880

250,060

7,350

3,316,560

2,690,850

405,710

591,600

752,560

636,480

304,500

613,910

309,740

304,170

11,800

2,662,210

481,650

714,220

629,920

449,220

238,140

149,060

648,440

417,720

230,720

5,910

375,000

291,880

54,270

67,970

73,530

64,020

32,090

83,120

56,700

26,420

289,060

78,250

63,020

49,020

49,440

34,040

15,290

84,500

65,160

19,340

1,440

3,296,490

2,634,710

352,220

581,940

760,350

626,860

313,340

649,980

335,360

314,620

11,800

2,594,760

444,340

677,590

615,260

463,920

251,080

142,570

694,380

455,780

238,600

7,350

3,005,110

2,414,690

321,150

531,260

700,670

580,360

281,250

578>620

287>530

291,090

11,800

2,380,340

395,890

635>760

580,190

419,250

220,460

128,790

618.860

395,370

223,490

5,910

291,380

220,020

31,070

50,680

59,680

46,500

32,090

71,360

47,830

23,530

I

214,420

48,450

41,830

35,070

44,670

30>620

13,780

75,520

60,410

15;110

1,440

395,07C

348,020

107,760

77>630

65,740

73,640

23,250

47,050

31,080

15,970

356,510

115,560

99,650

63,680

34,740

21,100

21,780

38,560

27,100

11,460

311,450 j 83,620

-1- 276,160 71,860

84,560 23,200

60,3401 17,290

51,890/ 13,850

56,1201 17,520

23,250

1-

+

22,210 8,870

13,080 2,890

1281,870 74,640

85,760 29,800

78,460 21,190

49,730 13,950

29,970 4>770

17,680 3,420

20,270 1,510

29,580 I 8>980

22,350 4,750

7,230 4,230

I

2?
Table 10. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, marriage ‘rder and age at

January 1955-

Marriage order, age at marriage,

and employment status of wife

All marriages ----------------

Marriage order and age-husband

First marriage -----------------

14-19 years------------------------

20-21 years------------------------

22-24 years------------------------

25-29 years------------------------

30+ years--------------------------

Remarriage---------------------

14-39 years------------------------

40+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

Marriage order and age-wife

First marriage -----------------

14-17 years------------------------

18-19 years------------------------

20-21 years------------------------

22-24 years------------------------

25-29 years------------------------

30+ years--------------------------

Remarriage ---------------------

14-39 years------------------------

40+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

Employment status of wife

Wife in labor force------------

Employed---------------------------

Unemployed-------------------------

Wife not in labor force--------

Keeping house----------------------

Other------------------------------

Major occupation group of husband

All

occupation

groups

Professional,

technical, Farmers and

and kindred farm laborers

workers

Managers,

officials,

and proprietors, except

farm

3.691.560

2,982,730

459,980

659,570

826,090

700,500

336,590

697,030

366,440

330,590

11,800

2,951,270

164;350

732>940

482,880

250,060

7,350

1,431,470

1,285,650

145,820

2,260,090

2,221,870

38,220

Number of marriages

495,240 239,150

436,240 197,260

16,640 53,260

100,520 39,930

142,840 40,420

127,080 36,960

49,160 26,690

I

55,950I 40,520

36,240 16,800

19,710 233720

433,540 193>840

35,190 70,290

85,220 45,040

122,260 26,080

99,240 25,330

70,640 17,470

20,990 9,630

=-l=

205,350 I 80,200

281,230 156,230

8,660 2,720

228.160

158,170

19,810

27,350

42,120

48,800

20,090

68,560

28,820

39,740

1,430

168,960

57.770

38,980

18,790

1,430

78,130

78,130

150.030

150,030

“i

30
marriage of husband and of wife, and employment status of wife at date of survey: United States,

June 1958

Major occupationgroup of husband

Clerical Craftsmen, Operatives Laborers, Husband

and Sales foremen, and Service except not in

kindred workers and kindred kindred workers farm and labor

workers workers workers mine force

k

+

34,290

54,680

98,390

67,550

22,220

+=

15,620

8,710

177,210

21,600

36,270

43,870

52,140

23,330

33,720

17,680

16,040

b

32,790

66,820

64,530

58,210

27,790

13,660

24>800

31,550

45,430

37,830

19,860

11,470

37,660I 39,990

I

30,110 29,760

7,550 10,230

130,270 101,780

122,470

7,800

91,280

10,500

171,190/ 109,150

I

I

162,850 107,600

8,340 1,550

Number of marriages

643,430. 852,940 187,370 393,790

503,800 695’,800 133,910

62,160 154,560 14,500

,104,960 164,520 31,890

143,410 176,600 39,520

125,680 130,200 32,990

67,590 69,920 15,010

138,180 155,680 52,010

75,230 110,130 22,570

62,950 45,550 29,440

1,450 1,460 1,450

326,010

‘67,780

37,280

30,500

484,230 692,680 131,180 327,850

I I

79,960 165,760 22,310 96,610

140,030 228,120 32,500

115,430

87,010

134,270 27,500 60,200

87,080 85,850 20,090 42,020

33,920 53>490 15,070

27,810

19,820

25,190 13,710 22,190

159,200 158,800 53,300 65,940

119,950 112,970 37,320 41,230

39,250 45,830 15,980 24,710

1,460 2,890

240,500 321,480 81,940 126,270

212,080 283,580 74,870 105,180

28,420 37,900 7,070 21,090

402,9301 531,4601 105,4301 267,520

I I I

398,500 523,570 103,930 267,520

4,430 7,890 1,500

139,090

77,200

60,300

6,070

54>230

1.590

84,250

7,700

19,410

38,250

1;,:;:

5:300

54,840

1,510

53,330

65.550

62,480

3,070

73,540

70,410

3,130

31
Table 11. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, labor force status of wife

Labor force status ofwife, marriage

order, and age at marriage of

husband and of wife

WIFE IN LABOR FORCE

All marriages----------------

Husband

First marriage-----------------

14-21 years------------------------

22-24 years------------------------

25+ yeara--------------------------

Remarriage ---------------------

14-39 years------------------------

40+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

First marriage-----------------

14-19 years------------------------

20-24 years------------------------

25+ years--------------------------

Remarriage---------------------

14-34 years------------------------

35+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

WIFR NOT IN LABOR FORCE

All marriages----------------

Husband

First marriage-----------------

14-21 years------------------------

22-24 years------------------------

25+ years--------------------------

Remarriage---------------------

14-39 years------------------------

40+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

Wife

First marriage-----------------

14-19 years------------------------

20-24 years------------------------

25+ years--------------------------

Remarriage---------------------

14-34 years------------------------

35+ years--------------------------

Marriage order not stated------

January 1955-

Major occupation group of husband

II 1 I

Professional, Managers,

All technical, Farmers and officials,

occupation

and kindred farm laborers and propriegroups workers tors, except

farm

Number of marriages I

--JJQu 178,860

379,330 49,590

307,690 52,400

432,080 76,870

4.47011

%%!

*I-K

80,200 78,130

65,820 48,410

20,820 13,750

15,830 . 9,570

29,170 25,090

60,920 51,700

26,700 15,430

26,040 25,690

8,180 10,580

19,280 25,000

11,980 12,110

7,300 12,890

1,430

L

26,140 40,270

9,540 16,820

16,600 23,450

1,370

132,920 117,260

88,630 50,600

25,370 50,410

18,920 16,250 --m%I

32
at date of survey,marriage order

June 1958

and age at marriage of husband and of wife: United States,

Major occupationgroup of husband

Clerical Craftsmen, Operatives Laborers,

and Sales

Husband

foremen,

kindred

and Service except not in

workers and kindred kindred workers farm and

workers

labor

workers workers mine force

130,270 101,780 240,500

116,550 83,100 184,320

23,360 27,240 63,860

43,290 22,580 47,720

49,900 33,280 72,740

13,720 18,680 54,730

7,880 10,050 25,260

5,840 8>630 29,470

1,450

107,660 85,200 173,590

19>490 21,390 68,190

68,670 48,900 79,380

19,500 14>910 26,020

22,610 16,580 66,910

18,200 7,850 34,870

4,410 8,730 32,040

Number of marriages

171,190 109,150 402,930

160,580 94,110 319,480

65,610 30,630 103,260

55,100 21,290 95,690

39,870 42,190 120,530

10,610 15,040 83,450

7,740 7,630

2,870

49,970

7,410 33,480

156,140 85,740 310,640

80,120 34,960 151,800

54,070 34,360 123,130

21,950 16,420 35,710

15,050 23>410 92,290

8,980 14,460 55,740

6,070 8,950 36,550

321,480

242,460

106,420

61,420

74,620

79,020

51,940

27,080

249,200

125,560

84,840

38,800

72,280

38,730

33>550

531,460

453,340

212,660

115,180

125,500

76,660

58,190

18,470

1.460

443,480

268,320

135,280

39>880

86.520

53,760

32,760

1.460

81,940

56,420

19,700

16,740

19,980

25,520

10,860

14,660

52,400

15,580

28,010

8>810

28,100

17,960

10,140

1,440

105,430

77,490

26,690

22,780

28,020

26.490

11,710

14>780

1,450

78.780

39,230

19,580

19,970

25,200

11,890

13,3101

126,270I 65,550

I

31,910\ 15.160

16,160 3,110

15,750 12,050

1.590

94,670 50,200

=“

231,650, 28,400

112,980 15,040

56,300 4,480

62,370 8,880

35,870 45,140

21,120 2,960

14,750 42,180

233,180 34,050

136,840 10;270

69,340 18,110

27,000 5,670

34,340 39,490

14,890

19,450 39,490

33
Table 12. Number of marriages, by major occupation group of husband, labor force statu

Labor force status of wife and

marriage order of husband and

of wife

WIFE IN LABOR FORCE

Marriage order of husband

and of wife

All marriages ----------------

Husband and wife both first

married ------------------------- --

Husband only remarried-------------

Wife only remarried----------------

Husband and wife both remarried----

Marriage order not stated----------

WIFE NOT IN LABOR FORCE

NJ,>riage order of husband

and of wife

All marriages ----------------

Husband and wife both first

married ---------------------------

Husband only remarried-------------

Wife only remarried----------------

Husband and wife both remarried----

Marriage order not stated----------

Major occupation group of husband

All

occupation

groups

Professional, Managers,

technical, Farmers and officials,

and kindred farm laborers and proprieworkers tors, except

farm

1,431,470

1,022,690

87,340

94,970

220,560

5,910

2,260,090

1,718,920

117,800

144,710

271,330

7,330

Number of marriages

205,350

175,740

11,790

3,120

14,700

289,890

241,610

2,920

15,770

26,540

3,050

80,200

56,350

4,570

9,470

9,810

158,950

124,870

8,050

6,570

18,090

1,370

78,130

41,430

10,270

6,980

18,020

1,430

150,030

102,000

15,260

7,760

25,010

34
of wife at date of survey, and marriage order: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Major occupation group of husband

Clerical Craftsmen, Operatives Laborers,

and Sales foremen,

Husband

kindred

and Service except not in

workers and kindred kindred workers farm add labor

workers workers workers mine force

130,270

101,550

6,110

15,000

7,610

171.190

153,150

2,990

7,430

7,620

101,780

79,630

5,570

3,470

13,110

109,150

84,090

1,650

10,020

13,390

Number of marriages

240,500

167,610

4,530

16,710

50,200

1,450

402,930

283,120

27,520

36,360

55,930

321.480

224,130

25,070

18,330

53,950

531,460

415,360

28>120

37,980

48,540

1,,460

81.940

44,690,

7,710

10,290

17,810

1,440

105,430

71,340

7,440

6>150

19,050

1,450

126.270

84,270

10,400

10,090

21,510

267,520

216,270

16,910

15,380

18,960

65.550

47,290

1,320

1,510

13,840

1,590

73,540

27,110

6,940

1,290

38,200

35
Table 13. Number of marriages, by household status and marriage order of husband at date

vey and major occupation group of husband: United States, January 1955-June 1958

Major occupation group of

husband

All occupation groups--

Professional, technical, and

kindred workers-------------

Farmers and farm laborers----

Managers, officials, and

proprietors, except farm----

Clerical and kindred workersSales workers----------------

Craftmen, foremen, and

kindred workers-------------

O~peg~es and kindred

---------------------

Serviceworkers--------------

Laborersj except farm and

mme------------------------

Not in labor force-----------

of surHousehold status and marriage order of husband

Husband-head.of household Husband-not head of household

Total First ‘ Re- Total First Remarriage marriage marriage marriage

Number of marriages

3,283,250

466,570

194,790

216,380

281,530

190,660

577,350

745,910

159,110

322,810

128,140

2,633,270

4L3,430

156,850

149,380

258,660

159,880

447,870

608,380

111,630

257,810

69,380

649.980

53,140

37,940

67,000

22,870

30,780

129,480

137,530

47,480

65>000

58,760

395.070

25,620

42,990

10,350

19,930

20,270

64,630

105,570

25,370

70,980

9,360

348,020

22,810

40,410

8,790

18,470

17,330

55.,930

87,420

20>840

68,200

73820

47,050

2,810

2,580

1,560

1,460

2,940

8,700

18,150

4>530

2,780

1,540

36
A..

Table 14. Number of marriages, by household status of husband and labor force status and marriage

order of wife at date of survey: Unit&d States, January 1955-June 1958

Household status of husband

Labor force status and marriage orderl of wife Husband- Husbandhead of not head of

household household

I

Number of marriages

All marriages ------------------------------------------------- 3>283,250 I ,395,070

Wife in labor force---------------------------------------------

First marriage ------------------------------------------------------

Remarriage ----------------------------------------------------------

M

Wife not in labor force----------------------------------------- 2,003,310 249,450

First marriage ------------------------------------------------------ 1,609,310

Remarriage----------------------------------------------------------

227,410

394,000 22,040

lF,xcludescases for which marriage order not stated.

37
Table 15. Number of marriages,by major occupationgroup of husband at date of survey,marriage

Marriage order, region of residence

at marriage, and color

All

First

All husbands

marriages----------------

marriage -----------------

Northeast--------------------------

North Central----------------------

South------------------------------

West-------------------------------

Remarriage---------------------

Northeast--------------------------

North Central----------------------

South------------------------------

West -------------------------------

White

All marriages ----------------

First marriage-----------------

Northeast--------------------------

North Central----------------------

South------------------------------

West -------------------------------

Remarriage ---------------------

Northeast--------------------------

North central----------------------

South------------------------------

West-------------------------------

Nonwhite

All marriages----------------

First marriage-----------------

South------------------------------

All other regions------------------

Remarriage ---------------------

South------------------------------

All other regions------------------

38

Major occupation group of husband

Professional, Managers,

All technical, Farmers and officiala,

occupation and kindred farm laborers and propriegroups worker a

tors, except

farm

Number of karriages

3,614,530<

2,924,770

769,240

798,030

917,800

439,700

689,760

113,130

175,100

225,360

176,170

3,247,800

2,641,160

729>290

762,740

729,700

419,430

606,640

102,360

159,280

179,980

165,020

366.730

283,610

188,100

95,510

83,120

45,380

37,740

484,710

428,760

1373780

128,380

773780

84,820

55,950

,5,560

11,380

19,610

19,400

468,390

412,440 —

129,630

128,380

71,580

82,850

55,950

5,560

11,380

19,610

19,400

16.320

16,320

6,200

10,120

236,290

195,770

10,900

53,750

93,970

37,150

40,520

4,270

19,200

12,730

4,320

187,360

149,580

10,900

, 53,750

50,Loo

34>830

37,780

4,270

19,200

‘ 9,990

4,320

48.930

46,190

43,870

2,320

2,7’40

2,740

225,240

156,680

58,690

31,230

42,870

23,890

68,560

8,270

10,580

22,450

27,260

220,520

154,890

58,690

31,230

42,870

22,100

65,630

8,270

8,880

22,450

26,030

4,720

1,790

1,790

2,930

2,930
order and regionof residenceof husbandatmsrriage,and color: United States,January 1955-June1958

\

Major occupationgroup of husband

Clerical Craftsmen, Operatives Laborers, Husband

and Sales foremen, and Service except

kindred

not in

workers. and kindred kindred workers farm and labor

workers workers workers mine force

Number of marriages

298,480

274,150

80,350

78,020

85,940

29,840

24,330

2,780

6,550

7,570

7,430

274,830

253,460

74,010

73,390

79,420

26,640

21,370

2,780

5,050

7,570

5,970

23>650

20,690

6,520

14,170

2,960

2,960

209,400

175,680

48;230

54,510

51,260

21,680

33,720

4,230

8,730

10,410

10,350

202,890

169,170

46,700

51,630

49,i60

21,680

33,720

4,230

8,730

10.,410

10,350

6,510

6,510

2,100

4,410

629,760

493,080

135,430

116,910

139,980

100,760

136,680

17,410

35,190

46,580

37,500

604,940

481,960

132,590

115,130

133,480

100,760

122,980

14,520

31,210

41,320

35,930

24,820

11,120

6,500

4,620

13,700

5,260

8,440

835,680

681,490

174,190

188,370

257,620

61,310

154,190

32,450

45,810

40,670

35,260

741,560

602,040

161,820

181,060

202,680

56,480

139,520

29,440

44>580

30,240

35,260

94,120

79,450

54,940

24,510

14,670

10,430

4,240

176,960

126.380

41,570

32,430

33,130

19,250

50.580

11,860

7,500

18,300

12,920

141,180

101,190

40,160

26,150

15,630

19,250

39,990

11,860

6,120

11,970

10,040

35,780

25,190

17,500

7,690

10,590

6,330

4,260

381,960

317,030

70,410

88,140

106,490

51,990

64,930

13,510

13,460

24,560

13,400

281,350

246,790

64,590

75,730

60,640

45,830

34,560

8,640

7,430

9,100

9,390

100,610

70,240

45,850

24,390

30,370

15,460

14,910

.

136,050

75,750

11,690

26,290

28,760

9,010

60,300

12,790

16,700

22,480

8,330

124,780

69,640

10,200

26,290

24,140

9,010

55,140

12>790

16,700

17,320

8,330

11,270

6.110

4,620

1,490

.

5,160

5,160

39
APPENDIX I

TECHNICAL NOTES ON METHODS

Age at Marriage

Age at marriage was computed from age at last

birthday reported at the time of the Survey in June

1958, as follows:

Married in 1958—Use age at time of Survey.

Married in 1957 —Subtract 1 from age at time of

Survey.

Married in 1956—Subtract 2 from age at time of

Survey.

Married in 1955—Subtract 3 from age at time of

Survey.

For 1955, 1956, and 1957 the numbers subtracted are

the durations from July 1 of the given year to July 1,

1958, of marriages performed in the given year. The

assumption is made that both birthdays and dates of

marriage are distributed equally between the first

and second halves of each year and that the distribution

of one is independent of the ozher.

Medians of Computed Ages at Marriage

Medians were computed by the usual methods for

grouped data. Whenever the median fell in an openend age interval its exact value was indeterminate from

the tabulations made; hence, such medians are shown as

located in the interval, e.g., 40 or more years. Medians

were computed using more detailed age groups than

those shown in the general tables.

Sample Design and Estimation Procedure

The sample design of the Current Population Survey

instituted in May 1956 was spread over 330 areas comprising 638 counties and independent cities, with

coverage in the District of Columbia and the 48 States

as of 1958. Approximately 35,000 households were

interviewed each month. On the average, another 1,500

occupied units were visited but interviews were not

obtained because the occupants were not found at home

after repeated calls or were unavailable for some

other reason. There were also about 5,500 sample

units in an average month which were visited but were

found to be vacant or otherwise not to be enumerated.

The estimating procedure used in this Survey

involved the inflation of weighted sample results to

independent estimates of the civilian, noninstitutional

population of the United States by age, color, and sex.

These independent estimates were based on statistics ,’

from the 1950 Census of Population; statistics of

births, deaths, immigration, and emigratiosy and statistics on the strength of the Afmed Forces. To

these totals were added the population in the Armed

Forces living off post or with their families on post.

Reliability of the Estimates

Since all figures except the independent estimates

and complete census data are based on sample data,

they are subject to sampling variability. As calculated

for this report, the standard error, which is a measure

of sampling variability, also partially measures the

effect of response and enumeration errors but does not

reflect any systematic biases in the data. The chances

are about 68 out of 100 that an estimate from the sample

would differ from a complete census by less than the

standard error. The chances are about 95 out of 100

that the difference due to sampling would be less than

twice the standard error, and about 99 out of 100 that

it would be less than 2% times the standard error.

The estimates of standard errors shown in the

following tables are” approximations for the 330-area

sample. In order to derive standard errors which would

be applicable to a wide variety of population characteristics and which could be prepared at moderate cost, a

number of approximations were required. As a result,

the tables of standard errors should be interpreted as

providing an indication of the order of magnitude of the

standard errors rather than as providing a precise

standard error for any specific item.

40
...41

Table I contains the standard error of estimates of

the numbers of households, families, or persons in a

given class.

Table 1. Standard error of estimated numbers

I

Size of estimate Standard

error

25,000------------------------------ 7,000

50,000------------------------------ 11,000

100,000----------------------------- 15,000

250,000----------------------------- 24,000

500,000----------------------------- 34,000

1,000,000--------------------------- 48,000

2,500,000--------------------------- 73,000

5,000,000--------------------------- 100,000

10,000,000-------------------------- 140,000

25,000,000-------------------------- 200,000

50,000,000-------------------------- 230,000

f The reliability of an estimated percentage, computed by using sampling data for both numerator and

denominator, depends upon both the size of the percentage and the size of thetotalonwhich the percentage

is based. Estimated percentages are relatively more

reliable than the corresponding absolute estimates of

the numerator of the percentage, particularly if the

percentage is 50 percent or greater. Table II shows

the standard errors of estimated percentages for

different sizesof the base of the percentage.

Illustyation.— Table 10 shows that there were an

estimated 105,000 first-married husbands aged 20-21

years at marriage who were craftsmen-foremen by

occupation. Table I shows that the standard error of

this estimate is approximately 15,000. Consequently,

the chances are about 68 out of 100 that the figure

obtained from a complete census would have differed

by less than 15,000 from the sample estimate. The

chances are 95 out of 100 that a census would have

disclosed a figure differing tiom theestimate by less

than 30,000, and about 99 in 100 that the difference

would be less than 37,500.

These 105,000 husbands represented about 2lpercent of the estimated 504,000 husbands who were

craftsmen-foremen. Linear interpolation in table II

shows that the standard error of the 21 percentis

roughly 2.2 percentage points. Accordingly, thechances

are about 68 out of 100 that a complete census would

reveal that the percentage lies between 18.8 and 23.2

percent.

Caution should beexercised in considering trends

or comparisons of these data from oneyearto thenex~

comparisons over longer periods willgenerallyprovide

more reliable evidence of change because theamountof

the change will usuallybe larger and,ifso, the relative

error in the measurement ofthechange willbe smaller.

Estimates ofamual changearesensitive tosmaIlerrors

in the estimates of the total number of units in a category. The joint effect of sampling variability and any

biases in response or coverage on the total number of

persons in a given category for each year may,

therefore, be large inrelation to the amount of annual

change.

Table 11. Standard error of estimated percentage

Base of percentage

Estimated percentage

500,000 1,000,000 5,000,000 10,000,000 50,000,000

2 or 98----------------------------------- 0.8

5 or 95----------------------------------- 1.2 H

0.1

~:; H

10 or 90----------------------------------

0.1

1.2

25 or 75---------------------------------- ‘;:;

0.4

1.7 0:8

50---------------------------------------- 2.8

0.5

1.9

;:;

0.9 0.6 0.3

000

41
)..+

APPENDIX II

DEFINITIONS OF

The following is a list of terms

CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT

used in this

report. Definitions are taken from the U.S. Bureau

of the Census Cuvent Population RepoYts, Series

P-20, Number 88.

Recently mavried couple.-A husband and wife

married on or after January 1, 1955, both 14 years

of age or older, and living together in the same

household in June 1958 are considered a recently

married couple. Husbands and wives reported as

living together but with one spouse temporarily absent on vacation, on a visit, in a hospital, etc., were

included, as were couples married under common

law. Couples in which the husband was a member

of the Armed Forces were included only if the husband was at the time of the survey living with his

family either on or off a military post.

YeaY of rnan+age. —Year of marriage is defined

as the year of the last (most recent) marriage of

any person married more than once, or the year

of the only marriage for those in their first marriages. All questions about the marriage were asked

only for this marriage. Any remarried persons for

whom the interviewer determined that the only previous marriage had been annulled were tallied as

first married.

Place of residence at maviage. —Residence at

marriage is defined in the Survey as the usual living

place (county and State) one month prior to marriage. In the case of any person not having a usual

place of residence the location of his living place

immediately before marriage was recorded.

Household.— A household incIudes all reIated or

unrelated persons who occupy a single house, apartment or other group of rooms, or a room that constitutes a dwelling unit.

Head of household.-One person in each household is designated as the head of household; this

is usually the person regarded as the “head” by

other members of the group. Married women were

not classified as heads of households if their hus -

bands were living with them at the time of the survey.

Family.—A family is defined as a group of two

or more persons related by blood, marriage, or

adoption and living together.

Color.—The term “color” refers to the division

of the population into two groups, white and nonwhite. The nonwhite group includes Negroes, Indians, Japanese, Chinese, and other nonwhite races.

Favm and nonfavm Yesidence.-In accordance with

the 1950 Census definition, households are classified

as living on a farm if the respondent so reports.

Except~ons are (a) households paying cash rent

for OTZ{Ya house and ““yard on a farm, (b) persons

living in institutions even though agricultural work

is done there, and (c) residents of summer camps,

motels, and tourist cabins. All of these are considered nonfarm. In addition, all households other

than those listed as farm are classified as nonfarm. 2

Employ ed.—Employed persons are defined as

those who during the survey week were either (a) at

work—did any work for pay or profit, or worked

without pay for 15 hours or more on a family farm

or business—or (b) were with a job but not at work.

Unemployed. —Unemployed persons are defined

as those who did not work at all during the survey

week and were looking for work. This includes persons waiting to be called back to a job after layoff,

persons not in school and waiting to begin work at

a new job within 30 days, and persons who would

have been looking for work but were either, temporarily ill or believed no work was available in their

line or community.

Labor fovce. —The labor force includes the employed plus the unemployed as defined above.

Not in labov force. —This category consists of

all civilians 14 years of age and over who are not

classified as employed or unemployed. It includes

persons doing their own housework, unable to work

because of long-term illness, reti~ed, reported as

too old to work, voluntarily idle, whose only work

was seasonal and who were surveyed during an “off”

season, or whose only work was incidental (less

than 15 hours) unpaid work in a family farm or

business.

Majov occupation gnzup.-Occupations were classified according to jobs held during the survey week.

Persons employed at two or more jobs were reported in the job at which they worked the greatest

number of hours during tbe week. Persons unemployed during the survey week were classified according to their last civilian job.

I

42

0

“1
REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000

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No. 2.

No. 3.

Npi 4.

NO. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. &.

No. 9.

No. 10.

No. 11.

No. 1?.

tie. 13.

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