[xtypo_dropcap]T[/xtypo_dropcap]here was a time when university-educated women were less likely to be married than women with no university degree. But this trend has reversed, according to a report by Statistics Canada released last week.
In 1981, 65 percent of women aged 25 to 49 with a university degree were in a marriage, compared to 76 percent of the women in the same age group without a university degree. In 2006, the figure for married university graduates jumped to 57 percent, exceeding the percentage of those without a degree (53 percent).
The report also found that women are more likely than men to hold a university degree.
“In 2006, for every 100 women aged 25 to 49 with a university degree, there were 84 men with the same level of education. The corresponding ratio in 1981 was 157 men for every 100 women,” the report says.
The study is based on data from the 1981 and 2006 censuses.
Similar to the past, women with a university education tend to partner with men who also have a university degree, although this tendency has slightly dipped over the last 25 years.
In 2006, 64 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 49 were married to men with the same level of education, compared to 67 percent a quarter-century ago.
The trend was reversed for men with university degrees, who had a higher chance of being married to a university-educated woman in 2006 than in 1981.
The report suggests that the trends might be due to the rise in the number of women graduating with university degrees.
“Women with a university education would find fewer partners with comparable schooling to marry, whereas the reverse would be true for men.”
The report also shows that there are more common-law unions than 25 years ago. Sitting at 16 percent, the number of people in a common-law union in 2006 was four times higher than the figure in 1981 at 4 percent.
Common-law unions are more prevalent among women without a university degree, the report found.
In 1981, 65 percent of women aged 25 to 49 with a university degree were in a marriage, compared to 76 percent of the women in the same age group without a university degree. In 2006, the figure for married university graduates jumped to 57 percent, exceeding the percentage of those without a degree (53 percent).
The report also found that women are more likely than men to hold a university degree.
“In 2006, for every 100 women aged 25 to 49 with a university degree, there were 84 men with the same level of education. The corresponding ratio in 1981 was 157 men for every 100 women,” the report says.
The study is based on data from the 1981 and 2006 censuses.
Similar to the past, women with a university education tend to partner with men who also have a university degree, although this tendency has slightly dipped over the last 25 years.
In 2006, 64 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 49 were married to men with the same level of education, compared to 67 percent a quarter-century ago.
The trend was reversed for men with university degrees, who had a higher chance of being married to a university-educated woman in 2006 than in 1981.
The report suggests that the trends might be due to the rise in the number of women graduating with university degrees.
“Women with a university education would find fewer partners with comparable schooling to marry, whereas the reverse would be true for men.”
The report also shows that there are more common-law unions than 25 years ago. Sitting at 16 percent, the number of people in a common-law union in 2006 was four times higher than the figure in 1981 at 4 percent.
Common-law unions are more prevalent among women without a university degree, the report found.
