If political affairs have begun to revolve around the working class and the family unit, it’s worth seeing where the two converge. As it happens, some blue-collar jobs are more conducive to this integration than others, and in ways beyond the reach of policy guidelines.

The Institute for Family Studies, a family policy think tank, has published a recent report on the link between men’s jobs and their family status. Its findings suggest that, of the industries that working-class men populate, qualities related to stability and salary seem to predict higher rates of marriage and family life. In effect, these qualities in blue-collar jobs mimic white-collar standards, and so bring those men closer to the marriage levels found in upper classes. The research produces a list: High rates of married family formation are topped by the armed forces, public safety, and trucking.