The Labor-Force Participation of Married Mothers of Infants

Abstract

This study investigates why some married mothers of infants are employed while others stay out of the labor force for the first 3 years of their childrens lives. Using data on married women with children less than 3 years old from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics discriminant function analysis is used to examine 4 groups of wives: 1) white employed wives 2) black employed wives 3) white full-time housewives and 4) black full-time housewives. 4 distinct patterns emerge. Overall white employed wives appear to be working not so much out of financial need but rather out of an interest in being in the labor force. These women are most likely to have been employed before their children were born intend to remain in the labor force are psychologically comfortable with their employment and have husbands supportive of it. Black employed wives appear to be working out of financial need and are more likely to be employed full-time. Like white employed women they have a history of employment and plan to continue working. However black employed women are just as likely to be employed with or without their husbands approval. White housewives show little attachment to the labor force are unlikely to have been employed before their children were born are unlikely to have a career occupation and are the least likely to plan to work in the future. They are well off financially and psychologically; they have feelings of personal efficacy and claim that their husbands oppose their working. Black housewives have high financial need and plan to work but are hampered by lack of work experience high county unemployment and more children. They have a low level of personal efficacy. This analysis suggests that perceived job-family conflict with husbands attitude being the most important aspect of this discriminates very powerfully between employed and unemployed white women. Black wives are more strongly attached to the labor force; they also more strongly expect to be employed.