How Does Job Quality Influence Fertility? Parity and Gender Differentials in the Effects of Job Strain and Control

Pau Baizan, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

I explore both theoretically and empirically how work quality affects the hazard of first and second births. Specifically, I focus on two under-researched dimensions of work quality, i.e. the control over the job tasks and timetables, and the level of intensity and strain involved in the job. I hypothesize that these dimensions can have an impact on fertility through different mechanisms, including role conflict, satisfaction with work, partnership quality, and the level of mental and physical exhaustion and stress. Data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey and event history analyses are used. The results indicate substantial negative effects of strain and lack of control for second births and nonsignificant effects of strain for first births. The effects of control over how women perform their job tasks are strong and significant, both for first and second births, whereas the effects of control on their timetables are weaker. Home-based work and the availability of flexible start and finish work times show weak positive effects on second birth probabilities, whereas working on weekends and variability in workdays (vs. Monday to Friday) show positive effects. This last result suggests that women adapt their work schedules to their fertility plans.

Keywords: Fertility, Families, Unions and Households, Gender Dynamics, Human Capital, Education, and Work

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