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Couples' changing work patterns in the United Kingdom and the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Yue Qian
  • Yang Hu

Abstract

Going beyond a focus on individual‐level employment outcomes, we investigate couples' changing work patterns in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Analyzing longitudinal panels of 2186 couples from the Understanding Society COVID‐19 Survey (UK) and 2718 couples from the Current Population Survey (US), we assess whether the pandemic has elevated the importance of human capital vis‐à‐vis traditional gender specialization in shaping couples' work patterns. The UK witnessed a notable increase in sole‐worker families with the better‐educated partner working, irrespective of gender. The impact of the pandemic was similar but weaker in the US. In both countries, couples at the bottom 25% of the prepandemic family income distribution experienced the greatest increase in neither partner working but the least growth in sole‐worker arrangements. Through a couple‐level analysis of changing employment patterns, this study highlights the importance of human capital in shaping couples' paid‐work organization during the pandemic, and it reveals the socioeconomic gradient in such organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Qian & Yang Hu, 2021. "Couples' changing work patterns in the United Kingdom and the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(S2), pages 535-553, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:28:y:2021:i:s2:p:535-553
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12661
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elisa Brini & Stefani Scherer & Agnese Vitali, 2024. "Gender and Beyond: Employment Patterns during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(3), pages 1-23, June.
    2. José Enrique Rodríguez Hernández, 2025. "How has the partner influenced the spouse’s employment situation in Spain before and during Covid-19?," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 59(1), pages 1-11, December.

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