Male worklessness and the rise of lone parenthood in Britain

Rowthorn, R. and Webster, D. (2008) Male worklessness and the rise of lone parenthood in Britain. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society(1), pp. 69-88. (doi: 10.1093/cjres/rsm004)

Abstract

Deindustrialization has eliminated many traditionally male jobs in Great Britain. Using geographical comparisons based on Census data, this paper estimates that the resulting fall in male employment explains between 38% and 59% of the 1.16m increase in lone parent families over the period 1971–2001. The impact was greatest in the areas which suffered most from industrial decline. Higher male employment would help to contain, and maybe reverse, the growth of lone parenthood, by reducing inflows into lone parenthood and increasing outflows through re-partnering and consequent stepfamily formation. Female employment is found to have no consistent net effect on lone parenthood.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Lone parents, lone parenthood, lone motherhood, female headed families, family structure, unemployment, worklessness.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Webster, Dr David
• Authors: Rowthorn, R., and Webster, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
• ISSN: 1752-1378
• ISSN (Online): 1752-1386