Occupation and Career after Childbirth in the Depopulating Society: Evidence from Japan

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24730258
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Economic policy
• Research Institution: Hitotsubashi University (2014); Keio University (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: NOZAKI Kayo 一橋大学, 経済研究所, 日本学術振興会特別研究員(PD) (40588927)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 経済政策 / 職種 / 女性労働

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigate the relationship between occupation and the likelihood of women continuing to work after childbirth in Japan. A continually decreasing number of live births and increasing maternal age have led to a reduction in the working-age population, pointing to workforce shortage in the future. One way of solving this problem is to utilize the potential female workforce. This analysis allows us to identify particular occupations that are easier for women to return to after childbirth. Our empirical results show that women engaged in professional and manufacturing occupations have a higher probability of continuing to work after their first childbirth compared to women engaged in other occupations. Further, we also show that professional and manufacturing workers tend to use child-care support more than other workers. Moreover, for women who quit their jobs before childbirth, their former employment status is not correlated with employment after childbirth.

Free Research Field

労働経済学