Dual tracks: Part-time work in life-cycle employment for British women

(2010) - Sara Connolly, Mary Gregory

Journal: Journal of Population Economics
Link:: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00148-009-0249-4
DOI:: 10.1007/s00148-009-0249-4
Links::
Tags:: #paper #NCDS #Gender #LabourMarket
Cite Key:: [@Connolly2010]

Abstract

Almost half the women in work in the UK work part-time, but views conflict: does this support a woman’s career or is it a dead-end trap? Cohort data on labour market involvement to age 42 show highly varied pathways through full/part-time/non-employment. Econometric estimation confirms that individual characteristics matter, but labour market history is particularly powerful. Part-time work serves two different functions. A history of full-time work even including spells in part-time or non-employment, tends to lead back to full-time work, so supporting a career. Part-time work combined with nonemployment is unlikely to lead to full-time work, and is a trap.

Notes

“Part-time work serves two different functions. A history of full-time work even including spells in part-time or non-employment, tends to lead back to full-time work, so supporting a career. Part-time work combined with nonemployment is unlikely to lead to full-time work, and is a trap.” (Connolly and Gregory, 2010, p. 2)