Released Nov. 1, 2007

STILLWATER, Okla. – This is according to a study conducted by the Carsey Institute showing rural mothers with children under the age of 6 have higher employment rates than those in urban settings. Yet, rural areas still have higher poverty rates, lower wages and lower family income.

As men in rural areas have declining jobs due to reforming of rural labor markets, survival changes and income depends on the women’s wages, said Glenn Muske, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service home-based and micro business specialist, and interim assistant director.

“According to the study, in 2004, 69 percent of rural or nonmetropolitan mothers with young children under the age of 6 were employed,” Muske said. “This is compared to 63 percent of urban mothers who are employed.”

In addition, for the past 25 years, rural mothers have constantly had higher employment rates than urban mothers.

The Carsey Institute study also shows rural mothers with more education have higher employment. It shows in 2004, 46 percent of rural mothers with less than a high school education were employed, whereas 84 percent of rural mothers with a college degree were employed. This same pattern shows in urban areas as well.

Muske said whatever the education level mothers in rural areas have higher employment rates than urban mothers mainly because rural areas have suffered a valid loss of earnings, income and employment from men in the household.

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http://www2.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/katie.reim-40okstate.edu/rural-mothers-are-more-likely-to-work

Contact: Katie Reim, (405) 744-6792, katie.reim@okstate.edu