California Today

Missing Men in US Marriage Market

19 May 2026 09:36

A new study by economists examines how educational and economic gender gaps are affecting marriage rates in the US. - Women now make up nearly 60% of college undergraduates, outnumbering men by over two million.

- College-educated women increasingly marry men without degrees, often higher earners. - Women without college degrees face a shrinking pool of economically stable partners, leading to lower marriage rates.

- The trend is linked to rising single-mother households and growing inequality. The research suggests a 'missing economically stable men' phenomenon is reshaping American families.

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