En este trabajo se analiza la respuesta del trabajo de cónyuges en hogares nucleares, en los que ha disminuido el ingreso familiar, y/o en el que el jefe ha experimentado un episodio de desempleo. Este trabajo se encuadra dentro de las investigaciones del efecto del así denominado efecto del trabajador adicional. Los resultados muestran que este efecto existe y es considerablemente fuerte, a diferencia del hallado en los países desarrollados. Estos resultados son útiles para diseñar política pública, en especial en países, en los que, como en la Argentina, el alcance del seguro por desempleo está muy limitado.efecto del trabajador adicional. Los resultados muestran que este efecto existe y es considerablemente fuerte, a diferencia del hallado en los países desarrollados. Estos resultados son útiles para diseñar política pública, en especial en países, en los que, como en la Argentina, el alcance del seguro por desempleo está muy limitado. This paper analyzes the response of labor supply of married women whose husbands have become unemployed, an effect known as the added worker effect in the usual sense of the term. The magnitude of the added worker effect is estimated, both for one case and the other, according to the corresponding panel data of the main cities in Argentina. The results show that this effect do exist and is also considerably strong in the Argentine labor market, compared to that found out in developed economies (i.e. USA and Europe). The results obtained are particularly important for the designing of public policies. In a economy in which the unemployment insurance is very restricted, the spouses job is regarded as a private insurance that allows the family to meet difficult economic situations.added worker effect in the usual sense of the term. The magnitude of the added worker effect is estimated, both for one case and the other, according to the corresponding panel data of the main cities in Argentina. The results show that this effect do exist and is also considerably strong in the Argentine labor market, compared to that found out in developed economies (i.e. USA and Europe). The results obtained are particularly important for the designing of public policies. In a economy in which the unemployment insurance is very restricted, the spouses job is regarded as a private insurance that allows the family to meet difficult economic situations.