Does job security matter in dating?
Stable, reliable employment and good financial prospects are among the most consistently documented female mate preferences, and they matter more for long-term than short-term mating. In Buss's 37-culture study (N=10,047), women rated "good financial prospects" more highly than men in 36 of 37 cultures, and researchers predicted (consistent with the data) that women weight earning-capacity cues like ambition and industriousness more heavily. Survey data echo this: 71% of US adults say being able to support a family financially is "very important" for a man to be a good husband/partner, versus 32% who say the same of women being good wives/partners (Pew, 2017). The effect is robust in direction; the IFS data show the pattern persists (63% of recently married young women in 2023 were outearned by their husbands) while the spousal income gap narrows over time, and that men outside the labor force have reduced marriage prospects. Cross-society moderation by gender equality/affluence and women's independent income is plausible per the broader literature but is not directly established by the three cited sources.
Evidence & sources
- Buss (1989), Sex Differences in Human Mate Preferences, 37 cultures (N=10,047) — themantic-education summary
Page confirms 10,047 participants across 37 cultures and states 'Females from 36/37 cultures valued good financial prospects higher than males'; ambition/industriousness named as earning-capacity cues predicted to be valued more by women.
- Pew Research Center (2017), Americans see men as financial providers
71% of US adults say it is very important for a man to support a family financially to be a good husband/partner, vs 32% who say the same for a woman to be a good wife/partner.
- Institute for Family Studies — women still marry up, income gap narrowing
In 2023, 63% of recently married young women were outearned by husbands; women still prefer financially providing partners (cites Pew 71%); men outside the labor force have reduced marriage appeal/access, linking employment stability to marriageability.