Working Hard for the Money

Higher Povery Rates

Given the decline in earnings among men and the low wages of women, rural poverty rates are higher than in urban areas overall, particularly among mothers with young children.

Better Educated but Lower Pay

84% of rural women in the workforce have a Bachelor's degree, versus 81% of urban women. However, rural female college graduates only 81 cents for every dollar urban college graduates earned.

Increased Contribution

Today, nearly 1 in 5 rural married women contributes the majority of the couple's earnings, a 56% increase since 1970. Urban wives as primary providers increased by 65% over the same period.

Trend Data

Since 2000, the share of college-educated, married mothers of young children in the country's cities and suburbs who are working has declined from 75% to 71%. In 2007, 85% of equivalent rural mothers were in the workforce.

Employment rates of women by education, 1970-2007

Percent of equal earner couples by education, 2007

Percent of couples with wives as primary and sole providers by race and ethnicity, 2007