The dramatic increase in dual-earner couples during the last
four decades has been accompanied by a gain just as dramatic in
the number of wives who are the primary breadwinners, according
to a new study from Statistics Canada.
In 1967, an estimated 11 percent of wives earned more than
their husbands did. By 2003, this proportion had nearly tripled
to 29 percent.
The study shows that the wife was the primary breadwinner in
nearly 1.4 million of the 4.7 million dual-earner couples in
2003.
On average, wives who were primary breadwinners earned $41,200
in 2003, well below the level of $57,800 among their male
counterparts. Husbands who were secondary earners had average
earnings of $21,300.
The study, which used data from the Survey of Labour and Income
Dynamics, showed that primary-earner wives are generally more
educated than secondary-earner wives and primary earner
husbands.
