Wives' big salaries curtail relocation

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 2004

An increase over the last decade in the number of dual-professional marriages, in which both husband and wife earn substantial salaries, undoubtedly has helped fuel recent strong gains in home buying and recession-defying consumer spending, notes John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of the international outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., Chicago.

A recent survey shows the expansion of these higher income households also is the primary cause of a 54% decline in the number of jobless managers and executives who are willing to relocate for a new position if it means the employed spouse would be forced to leave his or her job. "With more married couples who both have well-paying jobs, it is easier when one loses his or her job to live temporarily on one income without resorting to relocation."

Only 23% of jobless managers and executives relocating for new jobs in the first quarter of 2004 had employed spouses. That is down 54% from the annual average in 1995, when half had employed spouses. "Relocating among job seekers has fallen since Sept. 11, after which people seemed more determined to stay near family and friends. However, the decline in relocation among those with employed spouses has been more dramatic and began long before 9/11," observes Challenger.

A decade ago, the majority of managers and executives losing their jobs in downsizing were men. "It was more common, even as recently as 1995, that a wife either was not working or was working in a job that paid significantly less than did the husband's position, if he lost his job, it was vital that he find a new one as quickly as possible. One way that was achieved was by moving to wherever the best job offer came from," Challenger explains.

"Today, there are more female managers who are contributing a higher portion to the family's income. When spouses are on equal footing, it is much more difficult to ask the employed one to leave his or her job so that the unemployed spouse can take a position that requires relocation."