Based on an analysis of the Census Bureau’s Public Use Microdata Sample, the career website Zippia found that people in some professions are more likely to divorce compared to others. Of the top 10 career fields with the greatest number of divorces, three of them were military. Certain aspects of military careers such as long deployments can create a great deal of strain in a marriage. Military workers had the highest likelihood of divorce by age 30. Among all careers, divorces were most common for first-line enlisted military supervisors.
Other professions with high divorce rates were mechanics, automotive service technicians, logisticians, and military personnel involved in air weapons and tactical operations. Among the four branches of the military, divorce rates were highest in the Air Force. Dentists, speech language pathologists and religious workers tended to have the lowest divorce rates.
Although the divorce rate has been declining since it peaked in 1980, the Pew Research Center reports that divorce among baby boomers has gone up more than 100 percent since 1990. This is attributed to longer lifespans and less stigma around divorce among other factors, but financial insecurity can be a serious problem for older people who divorce.
When a couple has irreconcilable differences, they may decide to divorce regardless of their age or the financial situation that may result. However, they might want talk to attorneys beforehand in case there are special circumstances they should be aware of. For example, for military couples, benefits available to spouses may vary depending on the length of the marriage. Baby boomers might be able to take steps to protect their retirement accounts or better prepare for the financial challenges that divorce may present.