After extensively studying the global recession's effects on families across the nation, on Friday the Census Bureau revealed that the unemployment rates for couples, with children who are under the age of 18, has managed to double over the period from 2007 to 2009.

The hike was more for families which were two-parent than those where there was a single parent, as per figures shared through the March 2009 Current Population Survey.

The job cuts also meant that the percentage of couples with minor children, in which both the parents were employment, fell, and more often than not, the husband was the one who was out of work.

In the year 2007, in 67% of the married-couples households with kids under 18 had, both the adults were employment, and the percentage had fallen to 59% by the time 2009 came to an end.

The fall in family job rates was more among black and Hispanic couples.

"These statistics show us that families are having a difficult time during this recession", said Rose Kreider, family demographer with the U. S. Census Bureau.