Inga Laß, The BiB - Temporary Employment and First Birth

Title: Temporary Employment and First Birth: A Path Analysis of the Underlying Mechanisms Using Australian and German Panel Data
(with Irma Mooi-Reci, Martin Bujard & Mark Wooden)

Abstract: Numerous studies have found temporary work, such as fixed-term contracts and casual employment, to be associated with reduced fertility. Yet relatively little research has been devoted to the specific mechanisms underlying this link. This paper investigates four possible mechanisms linking temporary employment and the transition to first parenthood: job instability, job insecurity, wages, and financial satisfaction. We fit a series of path models using 19 years of data from the Australian HILDA Survey and the German SOEP. Our findings suggest that casual employment among both genders in Australia and fixed-term contracts among women in Germany significantly reduce first birth risks. The underlying mechanisms differ slightly. The lower wages associated with temporary jobs are a crucial factor reducing first birth risks for both genders in both countries. For women, the job instability (Germany) or job insecurity (Australia) associated with temporary jobs are of additional relevance.

Presenter: Inga Laß, The Federal Institute for Population Research (The BiB)

If you would like to subscribe to the Melbourne Institute Seminar Series email list, please contact us.