Origin, Generation, and Destination Country Context: Employment Changes and Childbearing Among Female Immigrants and Their Descendants in the UK, France, and Germany

TL;DR

This study explores how having children affects employment patterns of immigrant women and their descendants in the UK, France, and Germany.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into employment dynamics among immigrant mothers and their descendants across European countries.

Findings

Mothers are less likely to enter and more likely to exit employment compared to childless women across all groups.

Immigrants from European and Western countries are more likely to (re-)enter employment than those from non-European countries.

Descendants of immigrants have higher employment levels than their parents, but disparities with natives remain.

Abstract

This study investigates the link between childbearing and employment changes of female immigrants and their descendants in three European countries: the UK, France, and Germany. Although childbearing significantly influences female labour force participation, the interrelationship between fertility and employment changes among migrant populations is poorly understood. We use event history models to study employment entry and exit by migration background and parity. Mothers are less likely to enter and more likely to exit employment than childless women among native women, immigrants, and their descendants. The largest differences in employment entry and exit are observed between migrant origin groups and generations, and between destination countries. European and Western immigrants are more likely to (re-)enter and less likely to exit employment than those from non-European countries. The descendants of immigrants have higher employment levels than immigrants and the differences compared to natives are smaller, but they persist, particularly among those of non-European descent. We also observe some differences across countries: mothers are the most likely to exit employment in Germany and the least likely in France. Our study highlights the importance of work–family reconciliation and immigration policies for reducing labour market disadvantage among mothers overall and particularly among immigrants and their descendants.

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