Mothers’ Labour Market Entry after Childbirth: The Role of Pre-Pregnancy Job Characteristics and Socio-Demographic Factors

Fruzsina Ökrös, Institute for Quantitative Population and Economic Research - Hungarian Demographic Research Institute
Zsuzsanna Makay , Hungarian Demographic Research Institute

In Hungary, women often take advantage of maternity and child-raising allowances and typically stay at home for an extended period after childbirth in line with social norms. Our research examines how pre-pregnancy labour market characteristics and socio-demographic factors shape the timing and likelihood of mothers’ return to work within 40 months after childbirth. The analysis draws on the first five waves of the longitudinal panel study Cohort ’18 Growing Up in Hungary, which followed women from pregnancy until their child’s fifth birthday. Data from 6,800 mothers were examined using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. About 90% of mothers are not employed during the first 18 months, decreasing to 77% by the child’s second birthday. By the age of three, 43% are employed, but this proportion remains below 50% when the child is 40 months old. Cox regression models reveal that labour market attachment and socio-demographic background – including birth order, number of children, household income, and relationship stability – have a stronger effect on returning to work than job-specific characteristics such as sector or contract type. Mothers employed during the seventh month of pregnancy return to work earlier, while roughly 8% had never worked before pregnancy, facing heightened barriers to future employment and financial security. Results also show that while most mothers remain primary caregiver, postnatal employment rates have increased compared to previous decades. Keywords: maternal employment, employment determinants, parental leave, Cohort ’18 study, Hungary

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 Presented in Session 76. The Gendered Dimension of Human Capital