LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF WOMEN IN RELATION TO EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR SURROUNDING THE 1ST BIRTH

Focusing on a group of women from the National Longitudinal Surveys wh o had a first birth between 1968 and 1973, this paper examines the pos t-birth work experience of these women up through 1987 as well as thei r employment and earnings in 1987 in relation to their employment acti vity in the period immediately surrounding the first birth. Early empl oyment behavior is a significant independent predictor of lifetime wor k experience. Differences in work behavior according to first-birth em ployment are still evident 14-19 years after the first birth, particul arly for women who returned to work within six months following the bi rth. The corresponding differences in lifetime work experience result in higher wages.