Fruzsina Ökrös and Zsuzsanna Makay, in their recent study, examined the factors influencing mothers’ participation in the labour market after childbirth.

Based on data following the employment characteristics of more than 6,800 mothers, the study found that women’s employment trajectories are strongly associated with their labour market status before childbirth, their educational attainment, and the household’s income level.

Within 18 months after giving birth, only about 10% of mothers were actively employed. Although this proportion increased to 23% when children reached the age of two and to 43% by age three, it still remained below 50% even at 40 months. The analyses highlight that having a job before childbirth and sustained engagement with the labour market play a key role in determining when mothers are able to (re)enter employment.

The study draws two important conclusions. First, when compared to data from previous decades, mothers have been returning to work more quickly by the late 2010s. While between 1965 and 2008 only about 10% of mothers were employed two years after giving birth, current data show considerably higher rates. One possible reason for this change is the “GYED Extra” policy introduced in 2014, which allows mothers to work while still receiving the childcare benefit. Second, the analyses indicate that strong labour market engagement before childbirth is the most important factor influencing mothers’ return to work. Mothers who were employed during pregnancy tend to stay at home for a shorter period, regardless of the number of children they have. In contrast, the sector, type of employment contract, or job position seems to have less influence on employment.

The study also considers the potential impact of restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that the likelihood of entering the labour market decreased during periods affected by lockdown measures.

The full article is available here:

Ökrös, F., & Makay, Zs. (2024). Mothers’ labour market entry after childbirth: the role of pre-pregnancy job characteristics and socio-demographic factors. Demográfia, 67(2), 101–143. https://doi.org/10.21543/DEM.67.2.1

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