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Published on: January 12, 2018
Effect of First Births on Women's Employment in a Low-Income Context: Research Note Using Panel Data From Nepal
Sarah Brauner-Otto1, Lyman Stone1
1Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Demography
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Maternal employment significantly drops after childbirth, with a 40% short-term decrease and an 8-10% long-term employment penalty observed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Women in salaried roles faced the most substantial penalties.
Area of Science:
- Socioeconomics
- Labor Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Childbirth significantly impacts maternal employment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Understanding the long-term employment consequences for mothers is crucial for economic and social policy.
- Previous research has limited longitudinal data from LMIC settings on this issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the short-term and long-term effects of childbirth on maternal employment in a LMIC.
- To quantify the maternal employment penalty following childbirth.
- To examine how job type influences the employment penalty.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design tracking employment changes post-childbirth.
- Analysis of employment rates and duration in a LMIC setting.
- Comparison of employment penalties across different job types, focusing on salaried positions.
Main Results:
- A substantial 40% short-term decrease in maternal employment was observed immediately after childbirth.
- A moderate 8-10% long-term employment penalty persisted for mothers.
- Women in high-quality salaried jobs experienced the most significant employment penalties.
- The maternal employment penalty has increased over time, correlating with a rise in women's participation in salaried jobs.
Conclusions:
- Childbirth imposes a significant and lasting employment penalty on mothers in LMICs.
- The trend indicates a growing economic disadvantage for women in the workforce after childbirth, especially those in formal employment.
- Policy interventions may be needed to mitigate these long-term employment disparities.
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