Men and women workforce transitions following childbearing in France

Ariane Pailhe, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Anne Solaz, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)

This paper explores the relationship between childbearing and employment by examining the workforce transitions of both partners after childbearing (out of work, part-time, change in work schedule,…) in France. The aim is to consider what factors are associated with a higher maternal/paternal attachment to work (human capital variables, marital status, partner’s characteristics, occupational status). The data set used here comes from the Family and Employer survey conducted by INED in 2004-2005. We use both descriptive and multivariate analysis (multinomial logit and time event history analysis). Childbearing has a greater impact on mothers than on fathers’ careers. Moreover, for women the higher the rank of birth, the higher the impact of childbearing on activity. Characteristics of employment are found to be the main determinant of women’s transitions out of work after childbearing and on the return to work.