EMPLOYMENT AFTER CHILDBEARING AND WOMENS SUBSEQUENT LABOR-FORCE PARTICIPATION - EVIDENCE FROM THE BRITISH 1958 BIRTH COHORT

Data on women from the British 1958 Cohort Study is used as evidence o n the determinants of their labour force participation at age 33. A co nventional cross-sectional model of full or part-time employment makes use of some longitudinal material not normally included in such model s. Whether the woman made the hitherto customary break from employment at the time of the first maternity is included in recognition that th is cohort was among the first generation to be offered Statutory Mater nity Leave. Results suggest that the presence of children (still) inhi bits full-time employment and raises the probability of part-time empl oyment; that income effects on participation have continued to weaken while wage elasticity for full-time employment is high. Continuity of employment straight after childbearing raises the chances of subsequen t full-time employment, but by no means guarantees it. Gains from mate rnity leave and other family friendly employment policies have been fa r from uniform.