NATIONAL UNMARRIED/SINGLE WEEK

Unmarried and Single Americans Week is celebrated in the United States during the third full week of September to show appreciation for the contributions of those who are single, widowed or divorced. The observance originated as National Singles Week in Ohio in the 1980s to celebrate single life and recognize the contributions of singles to society. Since many unmarried Americans do not describe themselves as single because they are parents, have partners, or are widowed, the name was changed to Unmarried and Single Americans Week. There are 103 million unmarried American adults according to the U.S. Census Bureau, of which 62 percent have never been married, 24 percent are divorced, and 14 percent are widowed. The group comprises over 44 percent of all U.S. adults who are 18 and older and represents a significant source of intellectual capital in the workplace.