Public Sector Jobs Increase Fertility

Pulse

oi-Staff

Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 13:28

People working in the public sector find it easier to make decisions on having a baby. The relative security of employment in the public sector along with 'family friendly' ethos in the private sector, at UK and Italy, could foster fertility.

The public sector offers a guaranteed job, a career progression and more flexible hours and time offs to take care for sick children.

The results show that the decision to have a child is often far from straightforward women. There is a strong link between women's employment and fertility but not between men's work and fertility.

A woman's decisions about both work and having children seem to be linked to values, beliefs and other similar characteristics whereas men have children regardless of their orientation towards work.

There is no strong link between the pattern of men's careers and women's careers. It is also clear that children are more likely to be born in situations where it is easier for women to move in and out of the labour market, or to reduce their working hours for a period.