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Explaining changes in married mothers' employment over time
1RAND, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA.
Demography
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Married mothers with young children significantly increased their labor force participation between 1971 and 1990. This rise was driven by demographic shifts and improved earning opportunities for women, with infants posing less of a barrier.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Demography
Background:
- Maternal employment rates for mothers with preschool children saw a substantial increase from 1971 to 1990.
- Understanding the drivers of this labor supply shift is crucial for economic and social policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the factors contributing to the rise in employment among married mothers with preschool children.
- To quantify the impact of demographic changes and economic opportunities on maternal labor supply.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) spanning the period 1971-1990.
- Employed statistical analysis to attribute changes in labor supply to demographic characteristics and earnings opportunities.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-fifth of the employment increase is linked to changes in mothers' age, education, and number of children.
- Another one-fifth is explained by evolving earnings opportunities for both mothers and their husbands.
- Infants under three months became a lesser impediment to employment over this period.
Conclusions:
- Maternal labor supply dynamics shifted, becoming more responsive to women's own earnings potential.
- The influence of husbands' earnings opportunities on women's employment decisions diminished.
- Demographic shifts and economic factors collectively explain a significant portion of increased maternal employment.