Employment by Family Type in South Carolina

Married-Couple Families

In about half of all married-couple families (49.9 percent) in South Carolina in 2000, both the husband and wife were employed. In 23.2 percent of married-couple families, the husband was employed and the wife was either unemployed or not in the labor force. In 8.1 percent of married-couple families, the wife was employed and the husband was either unemployed or not in the labor force. Married-couple families in which neither spouse was in the labor force in 2000 comprised 18.0 percent of all married-couple families.

In the United States, both spouses worked in 51.3 percent of married-couple families. In 23.5 percent of married-couple families, the husband was employed and the wife was either unemployed or not in the labor force. In 7.5 percent of married-couple families, the wife was employed and the husband was either unemployed or not in the labor force. Married-couple families in which neither spouse was in the labor force comprised 18.1 percent of all married-couple families.

Employment Status of Married-Couple Families: 2000

	South Carolina		United States
	#	%	#	%
Total Married-Couple Families	797,922	100.0	55,458,451	100.0
Both Spouses Employed	398,126	49.9	27,626,749	49.8
Husband Employed, Wife Unemployed	11,924	1.5	815,715	1.5
Husband Employed, Wife Not in Labor Force	172,905	21.7	12,177,199	22.0
Husband Unemployed, Wife Not in Labor Force	3,424	0.4	357,661	.6
Husband Unemployed, Wife Unemployed	801	0.1	83,171	0.1
Wife Employed, Husband Unemployed	7,002	0.9	626,227	1.1
Wife Employed, Husband Not in Labor Force	57,630	7.2	3,556,221	6.4
Wife Unemployed, Husband Not in Labor Force	2,823	0.4	186,350	0.3
Neither Spouse in Labor Force	143,287	18.0	10,029,158	18.1

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. SF3, Table P44.

Single Householder Families

Male householders in South Carolina with no wife present are more likely to be employed than female householders with no husband present. In 2000, 69.6 percent of single male householders were employed or in the armed forces, 3.3 percent were unemployed, and 27.1 percent were not in the labor force. 59.1 percent of single female householders were employed or in the armed forces, 5.0 percent were unemployed, and 35.9 percent were not in the labor force.

In the United States, 71.4 percent of single male householders were employed or in the armed forces, 4.1 percent were unemployed, and 24.5 percent were not in the labor force. Among single female householders, 61.4 percent were employed or in the armed forces, 4.9 percent were unemployed, and 33.7 percent were not in the labor force.

Employment Status of Single Householder Families: 2000

	South Carolina		United States
	#	%	#	%
Total Families with Male Householder, No Wife Present	61,055	100.0	4,302,568	100.0
Employed or in the Armed Forces	42,477	69.6	3072462	71.4
Unemployed	2,013	3.3	176,661	4.1
Not in Labor Force	16,565	27.1	1,053,445	24.5
Total Families with Female Householder, No Husband Present	219,759	100.0	12,500,761	100.0
Employed or in the Armed Forces	129,897	59.1	7,680,727	61.4
Unemployed	10,943	5.0	607,654	4.9
Not in Labor Force	78,919	35.9	4,212,380	33.7

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. SF3, Table P44.

Employment Status of Parents of Children Under 18

Two-Parent Families

Most children in South Carolina who live with both parents are in families in which both parents are in the labor force. Looking only at children under 6 living in two-parent families in 2000, 57.3 percent were in families with both parents in the labor force, 35.3 percent were in families with only the father in the labor force, 3.6 percent were in families with only the mother in the labor force, and 3.7 percent were in families with neither parent in the labor force.

In the United States, 53.2 percent of children under age 6 in two-parent families had both parents in the labor force, 38.1 percent were in families with only the father in the labor force, 3.4 percent were in families with only the mother in the labor force, and 5.3 percent were in families with neither parent in the labor force.

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 in two-parent families were even more likely than children under age 6 to have both parents in the labor force. In South Carolina in 2000, 65.3 percent of 6 to 17 year-olds lived in two-parent families with both parents in the labor force, 24.9 percent lived in families with only the father in the labor force, 5.4 percent were in families with only the mother in the labor force, and 4.3 percent were in families with neither parent in the labor force.

In the U.S., 63.4 percent of children ages 6 to 17 in two-parent families had two parents in the labor force, 26.9 percent were in families with only the father in the labor force, 4.6 percent were in families with only the mother in the labor force, and 5.1 percent were in families with neither parent in the labor force.

Two-Parent Families with Children under 18: 2000

	South Carolina		United States
	#	%	#	%
Own Children Under Age 6	297,176	100.0	21,833,613	100.0
Own Children Under Age 6 Living with Both Parents	195,684	65.8	15,771,635	72.2
Both Parents in Labor Force	112,189	57.3	8,395,126	53.2
Father Only in Labor Force	69,167	35.3	6,009,266	38.1
Mother Only in Labor Force	7,076	3.6	535,482	3.4
Neither Parent in Labor Force	7,252	3.7	831,761	5.3
Own Children Ages 6 to 17	640,157	100.0	46,049,013	100.0
Own Children Ages 6 to 17 Living with Both Parents	422,248	66.0	32,999,630	71.7
Both Parents in Labor Force	275,907	65.3	20,933,805	63.4
Father Only in Labor Force	105,324	24.9	8882411	26.9
Mother Only in Labor Force	22,804	5.4	1,514,209	4.6
Neither Parent in Labor Force	18,213	4.3	1,669,205	5.1

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. SF3, Table P46.

Single-Parent Families

Most single parents with children were in the labor force in 2000. Among single parents of children under age 6 in South Carolina, 77.7 percent of single fathers and 71.5 percent of single mothers were in the labor force. Looking at single parents of children ages 6 to 17, 81.8 percent of single fathers and 76.1 percent of single mothers were in the labor force.

In the United States, 80.9 percent of single fathers with children under age 6 were in the labor force, compared with 69.8 percent of single mothers with children under 6. Among single parents of children ages 6 to 17, 83.3 percent of single fathers and 76.1 percent of single mothers were in the labor force.

Single-Parent Families with Children under 18: 2000

	South Carolina		United States
	#	%	#	%
Own Children Under Age 6	297,176	100.0	21,833,613	100.0
Own Children Under Age 6 Living with Father	20,601	6.9	1,453,572	6.7
Father in Labor Force	16,004	77.7	1,175,475	80.9
Father Not in Labor Force	4,597	22.3	278,097	19.1
Own Children Under Age 6 Living with Mother	80,891	27.2	4,608,406	21.1
Mother in Labor Force	57,820	71.5	3,216,900	69.8
Mother Not in Labor Force	23,071	28.5	1,391,506	30.2
Own Children Ages 6 to 17	640,157	100.0	640,157	100.0
Own Children Ages 6 to 17 Living with Father	38,537	6.0	2,690,804	5.8
Father in Labor Force	31,524	81.8	2,242,042	83.3
Father Not in Labor Force	7,013	18.2	448,762	16.7
Own Children Ages 6 to 17 Living with Mother	179,372	28.0	10,358,579	22.5
Mother in Labor Force	136,583	76.1	7,881,679	76.1
Mother Not in Labor Force	42,789	23.9	2,476,900	23.9