Economic restructuring and changing prevalence of female-headed families in America

Industrial restructuring has altered economic circumstances in the U.S., bu t the influences of these changes on family structure are not clear. This s tudy examines whether industrial restructuring influences female headship a nd whether these effects differ in nonmetro and metro counties. Results bas ed on data from the 1980 and 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing Sum mary Tape Files indicate several conclusions. First, female headed househol ds increased more rapidly in nonmetro than metro counties from 1980 to 1990 , although there was a great deal of variation across counties. Second, ind ustrial restructuring contributed to change in female headship in nonmetro and metro counties, and changes in various industries had differing effects on female headship. Third, overall gains in women's employment in a county had no influence on formation of female headed households, gains in men's employment deterred female headship, and gains for women in specific indust ries tended to slow formation of these households. Fourth, controlling for changes in median income and part-time-work did little to reduce the indust ry-specific influences on change in female headship. The results suggest th at linkages between industrial restructuring and family structure do exist, although the models are less able to explain changes in female headship in nonmetro than in metro counties.