Full Citation
Title: How the Timing of Children Affects Earnings in 20 Occupations
Citation Type: Conference Paper
Publication Year: 2017
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Abstract: Ample evidence shows that mothers earn less than non-mothers, yet recent studies show that the motherhood earnings penalty diverges by occupation. Women in professional occupations have greater access to workplace benefits which help reconcile work-family responsibilities and reduce non-employment spells. However, because of their higher earnings, women in professional occupations who re-enter after a break may experience significant earnings penalties. One strategy women employ to mitigate the earnings penalty is to delay childbearing. Here, I examine whether delayed fertility is positively associated with a reduced motherhood wage gap across 20 occupations. Using multilevel models and 2011-2015 American Community Survey data, I show that mothers in professional occupations experienced the largest earnings penalty with early motherhood, but also the largest premium with delayed childbearing. While delaying a first birth mitigates the earnings penalty in high-wage occupations requiring extensive career preparation, women in low-wage occupations experienced little economic benefit from older motherhood.
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Authors: Landivar, Liana, C
Conference Name: Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference
Publisher Location: Chicago, IL
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Family and Marriage, Fertility and Mortality, Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure
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