Unmarried Older Millennials, Know That You’re Not Alone

Surprisingly, the majority of those who are unmarried at 40 are not living together. Last year, only 22% of unmarried adults between the ages of 40 and 44 were cohabiting. Pew’s research reveals that a larger proportion of men compared to women have not yet tied the knot by the age of 40. Additionally, Black individuals are less likely to be married at 40 compared to their Hispanic, white, and Asian counterparts. Pew chose to focus on the age of 40 because it is a time when adults reflect on their lives at the start of a new decade. Richard Fry, a senior researcher at Pew, points out that some women may desire to have children within the context of marriage, and since fertility declines after the age of 40, it is an appropriate age to examine marriage outcomes.

Time suggests several reasons for the long-term decline in marriage. One factor is the reduced stigma associated with being single. There is also an acceptance of diverse family structures that do not require a marriage certificate. Additionally, individuals now have the ability to have children without necessarily having a partner. However, economics may play the most significant role. The magazine notes that women, in particular, are less dependent on men for financial stability and success. From an economic standpoint, men are no longer as attractive partners as they once were, as the nation’s labor market works against them.