Ploymint

The question which arises in our minds when we think of work-life balance is: “Will I have enough time and energy to sustain a healthy relationship with my significant other and build a family?” The answer for most of the careers on this list is no, which is one reason why those working in such industries have high divorce rates in their marriages. Rather than give specific analysis and advice for each career, I’ve put together a few tips that any millennial can use in their relationship to avoid becoming part of these eye-opening career divorce rates.

First, here’s the list. The numbers are all from this study done by researchers at Radford University, which used the 2000 U.S. Census data for its analysis.

10. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: 26.38%

9. Waiters/Waitresses: 27.12%

8. Baggage Porters and Concierges: 28.49%

7. Entertainers and Athletes: 28.49%

6. Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides: 28.95%

5. Food and Tobacco Factory Workers: 29.78%

4. Gaming Cage Worker: 34.66%

3. Massage Therapists: 38.22%

2. Bartenders: 38.43%

1. Dancers and Choreographers: 43.05%

What do these professions with high career divorce rates have in common?

9 out of 10 of these careers involve interacting with new people on a consistent basis. By the law of averages, professions where one routinely meets new people as part of his or her job are bound to produce more options for infidelity.

Another common factor that produces these high career divorce rates is the hours. Several of these jobs involve working irregular hours and call for routine travel, both of which are triggers for arguments in an eroding relationship.

What to Do When the Career Divorce Rates are Against You

• Consider hiring a relationship coach. Several millennials in healthy relationships have used the services of a relationship coach to find time to build romance while also building their careers. Use Twitter’s advanced search feature to quickly find some millennial relationship coaches near you.

• Talk about how you and your spouse feel about the other person’s career. Ideally this conversation would happen before marriage, especially if one person’s profession involves close physical contact with strangers. For example, massage therapists should make sure their significant others understand that on-the-job contact is strictly platonic. Dancers and choreographers should also have this conversation.

• Plan out uninterrupted relationship time each week. Be serious about this commitment. Write it down and tape it to different places you pass by daily. Set a reminder on your phone. Treat this time with your significant other as sacred and you’ll have no problem maintaining a healthy relationship.

• Don’t give off sexual vibes at work. The top 4 professions on this list of the highest career divorce rates all involve an aspect one could describe as “flirty.” Bartenders and game cage workers are friendly because they work on tips, and dancing and massages are activities that are naturally sensual, even though they occur in a professional context. Regardless of your sex, it’s important to let people know you are married if someone comes on to you on the job.

Do you work in a career with a high divorce rate? How do you and your significant other maintain a healthy relationship? I’d love to hear your advice over on Twitter!