Using 1975 and 1976 data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study examines the significance of the 1975 recession for families with children under 18. This study attempted to ascertain what families with children were most susceptible to having an unemployed breadwinner in 1975 and why some family heads were more susceptible to unemployment than others. First, the distribution of jobless breadwinners is described. Nearly 17 percent of the sample of families had a jobless breadwinner in 1975. Families with preschoolers, black families, and male-headed families at every life cycle stage were most likely to have their major breadwinner unemployed. Log linear analytic techniques indicated that life cycle stage, family household type, education of head of household, and county unemployment rates were important in estimating the distribution of unemployment among family breadwinners. When these variables were controlled, the work experience and race of the household head were not found to be significant. Tables and figures of data are included. (Author/MK)