couple_only_households.R

# Recreate a chart by Ben Phillips on the % of (civilian 15+) adults
# in couple-only households from the ABS Labour Force Survey
# https://x.com/BenPhillips_ANU/status/1777555189568057712

library(readabs)
library(tidyverse)

fm2 <- read_lfs_datacube("fm2")

theme_ben <- function(...) {
  theme_minimal(...) %+replace%
    theme(
      legend.position = "bottom",
      panel.grid = element_blank(),
      panel.border = element_rect(fill = NA),
      axis.ticks = element_line(),
      plot.subtitle = element_text(hjust = 0.5,
                                   face = "bold")
    )
}

fm2 |> 
  mutate(pop = employed_full_time_000 + 
           employed_part_time_000 +
           unemployed_total_000 +
           not_in_the_labour_force_nilf_000) |> 
  group_by(date, relationship_in_household) |> 
  summarise(pop = sum(pop)) |>
  mutate(share = pop / sum(pop)) |> 
  filter(relationship_in_household == "Husband, wife or partner; Without children") |>
  mutate(relationship_in_household = "Couple Only") |> 
  ggplot(aes(x = date, y = share, col = relationship_in_household)) +
  geom_line() +
  theme_ben() +
  scale_y_continuous("% of adult population",
                     limits = \(x) c(0.2, x[2]),
                     breaks = seq(0.2, 0.3, 0.02),
                     labels = scales::percent) +
  scale_colour_manual("Relationship in the household",
                        values = "#2a25d9") +
  scale_x_date("",
               date_labels = "%Y",
               breaks = seq(ymd("1990-01-01"),
                                 ymd("2025-01-01"),
                                 "5 years")) +
  labs(subtitle = "Share of adults in Couple Only Relationship ABS LFS Feb24")

ggsave("couple_only_households.png", 
       width = 25 / 2, height = 19 / 2,
       units = "cm",
       scale = 1.5,
       bg = "white",
       dpi = 300)