Parental leave and maternal labor supply

Parental leave increases the family–work balance, but may have negative impacts on mothers’ careers

Norwegian School of Economics, Norway, and IZA, Germany

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Elevator pitch

Numerous studies have investigated whether the provision and generosity of parental leave affects the employment and career prospects of women. Parental leave systems typically provide either short unpaid leave mandated by the firm, as in the US, or more generous and universal leave mandated by the government, as in Canada and several European countries. Key economic policy questions include whether, at the macro level, female employment rates have increased due to parental leave policies; and, at the micro level, whether the probability of returning to work and career prospects have increased for mothers after childbirth.

Length of paid leave available to mothers

Key findings

Pros

Parental leave increases the family–work balance.

Workers are protected from losing their jobs due to parental leave policies.

The extension of available parental leave periods has increased the actual duration of leave that women take.

The likelihood that workers return to the same employer after parental leave is higher if the leave period is not too long (i.e. not more than one year).

The introduction of parental leave quotas for fathers has helped create incentives for employers to grant paternal leave, and for fathers to take it.

Cons

There is evidence that entitlement to prolonged leave negatively affects employment rates and wages.

Long leave times reduce the likelihood that workers return to the same employer.

Career interruptions due to parental leave can lead to detachment from work and human capital depreciation, especially with longer leave durations.

Losses in terms of wages and human capital depreciation from parental leave are higher for highly educated than for low or medium educated persons.

Evidence of discrimination against women and mothers in some areas of work exists; parental leave policies represent one potential explanatory factor.

Author's main message

Parental leave schemes provide policy options to increase maternal employment and improve the work–family balance. International experience, mainly from Europe, shows positive experience with short and medium leave periods. Nevertheless, there are career costs related to parental leave. As such, governments and firms should take notice of workers’ career costs, which vary by educational level and increase according to the length of leave. Public policy and firm-based practices such as return-to-work mentoring programs should be established in order to reduce the costs associated with periods of leave and to provide incentives to return to work early.

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