Youth, Recession, and Downward Gender Convergence: Young People’s Employment, Education, and Homemaking in Finland, Spain, Taiwan, and the United States 2000–2013

Abstract

Using data from the Luxembourg Income Study, we conduct a gender comparison of how young people aged 20–34 in Finland (n¼19,941), Spain (n¼29,458), Taiwan (n¼47,219), and the United States (n¼184,581) participated in full time work, short-hours or temporary work, education, and homemaking before and after the Great Recession (GR) beginning 2008. Gender and country patterns varied substantially. In Finland, the GR was associated with higher proportions of young women homemaking, perhaps due to public support for home care of children. In Spain and the United States, higher proportions of both young men and young women were un- or underemployed post-GR, suggesting downward gender convergence.