Divorce affects people in every profession, but some occupations have higher percentages of divorced workers than others. Irregular schedules, financial pressure, and time away from home can strain a marriage, although a person’s job alone does not determine whether they will divorce.
So, which jobs appear most often in divorce statistics? Here’s what the available data shows, along with a look at how divorce works in Texas.
What Does the Data Say About Occupation and Divorce?
A Stacker analysis of recent American Community Survey data identified occupations with the highest percentages of divorced workers.
The figures reflect people who were divorced at the time of the survey among those who had ever been married. They do not show the likelihood that someone in a particular job will eventually get divorced.
The analysis found that several occupations near the top of the list involved relatively low pay or unpredictable schedules. However, the data does not establish that working in these jobs causes divorce.
The 10 Occupations With the Highest Divorce Rates
According to Stacker’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, these ten occupations had some of the highest reported percentages of divorced workers:
- Telemarketers at 34.4%
- Metal furnace operators at 29.5%
- Acupuncturists at 29.2%
- Bartenders at 27.8%
- Hazardous materials removal workers at 27.6%
- Massage therapists at 27.6%
- Sports officials and referees at 26.1%
- Hotel and resort desk clerks at 25.9%
- Postal service mail sorters and processors at 25.7%
- Non-eligibility interviewers at 25.6%
Several occupations on this list involve irregular schedules, physically demanding work, or relatively low wages. These conditions can make it harder for couples to spend time together or manage household finances.
Still, the rankings do not explain why any individual marriage ended. Divorce can result from many factors, and a person’s occupation is only one part of the picture.
How Can Your Job Affect Your Divorce in Texas?
Your occupation can influence several financial and practical issues during a divorce. For example, irregular work schedules may affect parenting arrangements, while differences in income can become important when determining child support or whether spousal maintenance is appropriate.
Self-employed workers and business owners may also face questions about how to value a business or divide assets acquired during the marriage.
Although your profession does not determine the outcome of your divorce, your income, work schedule, and financial circumstances can play a role in the decisions made during the process.
How Does Texas Handle Divorce When It Happens?
Texas allows spouses to seek a no-fault divorce. Under Texas Family Code § 6.001, a spouse can request a divorce based on insupportability when conflict has made the marriage unworkable and reconciliation is not reasonably expected. Neither spouse must prove misconduct to obtain a divorce on this ground.
Texas also follows community property rules. Under Family Code § 3.002, most property acquired during marriage is considered community property, although exceptions apply.
Community property is not automatically divided 50/50. Courts must make a just and right division, considering the circumstances of the marriage and the rights of both spouses and their children.
Issues involving property, debt, and child custody can affect the outcome. An experienced family law attorney can help you understand your rights and prepare for these decisions
Contact the Austin Divorce Attorneys at Smith & Bledsoe Family Law for Help Today
Your career may affect your marriage, but it doesn’t have to determine your future. If you’re considering divorce, having the right legal support can make a difference.
At Smith & Bledsoe Family Law, our Austin divorce lawyers bring more than 25 years of combined legal experience to helping Texas families address property division, child custody, and other divorce matters.
Contact us today at (512) 277-3166 for a free case evaluation and learn how our team can help protect your interests as you move forward.