Mexican-American Couples and Their Patterns of Dual Earning

Lori Reeder, University of Maryland
Julie Park, University of Maryland

The prevalence, types, and characteristics associated with dual earning may differ for Mexican-American couples compared to white couples in the U.S. partly because of the majority immigrant share of Mexican Americans. Using the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Current Population Survey, we examine whether the observed differences between groups are due to racial-ethnic differences or to nativity composition. The 3,916 Mexican-American couples are less likely to be dual earning than the 30,983 white couples. These differences are largely explained by an assimilation pattern by which couples with two U.S.-born spouses are the most likely to be dual earning. Educational attainment and the presence of young children are important determinants for all couples, but the number of children is not a significant factor for Mexican-American couples. Among dual-earning couples, the relationship between associated factors and the dual-earning patterns are quite similar for both Mexican-American and white couples once nativity is controlled.