Living in precarious partnerships

Palumbo, Lydia, Berrington, Ann and Eibich, Peter , McGowan, Teresa and Dey, Becki (eds.) (2025) Living in precarious partnerships (ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations Policy Briefing Series, 81) ESRC Centre for Population Change 4pp.

Abstract

In the UK, cohabitation is now the most common type of first live-in partnership. While some couples go on to marry or separate, others are increasingly choosing to continue to cohabit. One possible explanation for the changing trends in partnership is the growing economic precariousness experienced by young people. This briefing presents findings that suggest there is an economic barrier to stable partnerships and marriage in the UK today, with young people delaying or foregoing marriage because of economic uncertainty.

The results show that cohabitors who are financially stable are more likely to marry, while those with unstable jobs or feelings of financial insecurity are more likely to separate. Men’s financial resources play a crucial role, as cohabiting couples are less likely to marry if the man is unemployed or lacks savings.
Policymakers should recognise economic precarity as a key cause of partnership instability and address it by implementing policies which create a stable jobs market to help individuals save and plan for the future. Given that over a quarter of cohabiting couples separate within five years, policymakers should also consider the legal protections afforded to cohabitors and explore ways to improve public awareness of the legal implications of cohabitation breakdown.

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Contributors

Author: Ann Berrington

Editor: Teresa McGowan

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