Once a Barrier to Fertility, Women’s Employment Is Now Key to It.

Once a Barrier to Fertility, Women’s Employment Is Now Key to It.

Just not for everyone.
The question of how work influences women’s fertility has been high on the demographic research agenda for decades. For a long time, the assumption was that higher labour force participation among women was negatively associated with fertility. In recent years, however, more and more researchers argue that this may no longer be true. 

The question of how work influences women’s fertility has been high on the demographic research agenda for decades. For a long time, the assumption was that higher labour force participation among women was negatively associated with fertility. In recent years, however, more and more researchers argue that this may no longer be true. The argument goes that the expansion of reconciliation policies and changing gender roles have decreased the opportunity costs associated with childbearing, which leads to a positive relationship between female employment and fertility in dual-earner societies. Being out of the labour force may be perceived as a cheap time for childbearing, but lacking employment in a dual-earner society can yield feelings of nonfulfillment, prevent leaving the parental home, postpone union formation, and hamper the accumulation of the resources necessary to face the costs of family formation.

Books and Reports: Employment and Social Development in Europe - Quarterly Review - Winter 2016 (07/02/2017)

Employment and Social Development in Europe - Quarterly Review - Winter 2016 (07/02/2017)

The review highlights continuing economic growth in the EU together with a steady decrease in unemployment. In the third quarter of 2016, employment exceeded its pre-crisis peak by 0.9%, or 940 thousand more people in employment than in spring 2008. In December 2016, there were 1.8 million less unemployed people than the year before; including 1.3 million people less in the Euro Area. Full online access to the report.
Women’s Employment

Women’s Employment

What’s the role of education?
Numerous studies have confirmed that higher educated women are more likely to be involved in the labour market. However, the strength of education effects on women’s employment can be shown to vary across contexts. In a recent analysis, Nadia Steiber, Caroline Berghammer, and Barbara Haas analyze how and why education effects on women’s employment vary across countries and how these effects are modified by the presence and age of children.
Books and Reports: Immigration Policies and the Global Competition for Talent

Immigration Policies and the Global Competition for Talent

Link to publisher
This book examines the variation in high-skilled immigration policies in OECD countries. These countries face economic and social pressures from slowing productivity, ageing populations and pressing labour shortages. To address these inter-related challenges, the potential of the global labour market needs to be harnessed. Countries need to intensify their efforts to attract talented people – the best and the brightest. While some are excelling in this new marketplace, others lag behind. The book explores the reasons for this, analysing the interplay between interests and institutions.
Books and Reports: EU Employment and Social Situation - Quarterly Review – Spring 2016

EU Employment and Social Situation - Quarterly Review – Spring 2016

Full report
The activity rate in the EU has continued its steady increase since 2008, in particular for older people, though not yet for younger people, as highlighted by this edition of the Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review. Employment rate has returned to its pre-crisis level but with a much wider gap between countries, from 55% in Greece to 80% in Estonia, Germany and Sweden. The publication also stresses that permanent and full-time jobs continue to increase, though at a slower pace than in 2014.
From Age-Flex to Flex-Work

From Age-Flex to Flex-Work

How increasing life expectancy could contribute to gender equality in leadership positions
by James W. Vaupel Everyone talks about our new life courses in view of increasing life expectancy – but what about reconciliation of family and career? In numerous sectors of the economy and other branches of society, many of the leading positions are predominantly occupied by men. This has led to, for example, debates about obligatory quota regulations within the governing boards of listed companies to allow females to break through the so-called “glass ceiling” of gender-specific career paths.
Population Europe Inter-Faces: Iñaki Permanyer

Population Europe Inter-Faces: Iñaki Permanyer

An interview with Iñaki Permanyer (Center for Demographic Studies) on social inequalities. Questions: 1. When I hear about the unemployment rates for young people in many southern European countries, I wonder how they manage to survive – what do you know about their living arrangements? 2. What is the situation if unemployment happens later in life, do families still provide support? 3. How many unemployed people actually have to cope without any support from parents or partners?
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