Are Married Women in NYC Lazier?
Portfolio.com published an interesting article on the percentages of married women who work. It turns out that married woman will show up in an office more often in the rest of the US (67%) than in NYC (49%). The busiest worker bees are in Minneapolis with a rate of almost 80%.
Some New Yorkers might make a cruel remark that if you are stuck in the rest of the US, that you might as well work since what else do you have to do. In NYC there are certainly plenty of things to keep a married woman busy in the city that never sleeps. But I have to disagree with Zubin Jelveh, the author of the post. He hypothesizes that the main reason for the drop in working women was the long NYC commutes since all the other usual suspects such as children and labor market conditions were ruled out. I have heard of many reasons that a woman might not work or continue to work, and the commute was not a big part of it. If a woman wanted a job, she would not let a commute stand in her way.
What is my theory? Sorry for the obvious Sex and the City reference, but I would guess that there are quite a few Charlottes-wannbes. NYC is one of the most expensive and most competitive places in the world and attracts the best and brightest. To compete in this market, you have got to really want it, and you can’t get distracted. If you are not completely certain that you want to be part of the rat race and you have a source of income that can provide for you, then not working is probably your best option. Honestly, do you know anyone who is so unhappy with his job that he would quit if he won the lottery? Same thing. It is just that many people who are frustrated with their work do not have the option of quitting.
Tags: NYC, working married women