Gender composition in the workplace and marriage rates

Abstract

Theoretical models have ambiguous predictions on how workplace gender composition affects the incidence of marriage. Marital search theory suggests that having more opportunities for interactions between members of the opposite gender increases the likelihood of marriage. Yet, according to overload choice theory, people with more options could actually delay or forgo marriage if the increase in the number of choices makes it more difficult for them to make marriage decisions. I explore how changes in the gender composition within occupation and industry over the past 40 years affect marriage decisions. I find that a higher share of opposite gender coworkers within a person's occupation-industry is associated with a decreased likelihood of ever having been married.