Occupations and Divorce Rates

I frequently get comments from young people that there aren't a lot of people married a long time.  I tell them that it has been very common for me to driver married couples for 20, 30, 40 and sometimes over 50 or 60 years.  Having just celebrated my 43rd anniversary recently, I have a few thoughts on this including the below chart which I recently read.

I am a number's guy and I believe that whatever the odds are the most important thing is your marriage, not your neighbor's marriage, your sister's marriage, or your friend's marriage.  Your success or failure is based on you and your spouse and unfortunately there are times that are beyond a person's control and divorce may be the best for both parties.

The chart is based on a five year study and came out two years ago.  The lowest ranking occupations were actuaries, maybe because they know that divorce numbers don't matter it's up to them? Just kidding, but who knows? Low numbers are showing for scientists, IT people, doctors, engineers, surgeons, dentists, and pharmacists.  I'm surprised by the number of professionals, especially dentists which I've heard in the past that numbers were high.

On the highest side of divorce rates are a number of careers associated with the medical field but not necessarily the top occupations. Telemarketers, machine operators, bus drivers, bartenders, are very different occupations than the other list. In some cases this may be people who are doing this part-time and not full-time.

The biggest question I would have in looking at this chart, how has money made a difference in divorce? I am certain if you looked at the average salary in both columns it would be a very significant difference and you might be able to conclude that more income leads to less divorces.  Of course that doesn't mean wealthy people don't get divorced, but maybe education and money are a big factor. Some of the highest percentages may also be impacted by work schedules being very different and causing problems in their personal life.

It was noticeable to me that teachers are not on either list. I found it an interesting chart and maybe you will also.