Employment Changes over Childbirth: A Retrospective View

This paper uses longitudinal, retrospective data from the SCELI surveys to examine changes in employment behaviour and occupation over childbirth for British women over the period 1956-86. It demonstrates that for most women on first re-entry to the labour market increased qualifications and earlier return do not lead to improvement in their occupational status, as Hope-Goldthorpe value, or hourly pay rates. Main findings are that women are returning to the labour market earlier; return between first and second births is increasing; decline in status is frequent, but most mothers do not show a decline; those of previous service-class occupation but without higher qualifications are most at risk; higher qualifications, full-time employment and short breaks are associated with maintenance of status; part-time employment is even more damaging to pay rates than to status; part-time returners may be becoming less likely ever to change to full-time employment.