Effects of occupational status differences between spouses on the wife's labor force participation and occupational achievement: Findings from 12 European countries

Effects of occupational status differences between spouses on the wife's employment and on her occupational achievement are studied for the countries of the European Union. The results show a tendency towards similarity in occupational status within marriages, Labor force participation of a wife is highest when her potential occupational status equals her husband's occupational status. Furthermore, the husband's occupation produces both a ceiling effect and a facilitating effect on the wife's occupational achievement. The strength of these effects differs somewhat between the countries. For a wife's participation in the labor force, these differences are related to the country try's dominant religion.