Gendered Grandchild Care in Later Life: Grandmothers’ Paid Work and Informal Childcare

This study investigates the association between informal family caregiving and reemployment decisions among a non-representative sample of 400 retired urban women with non-agricultural Hukou in Fujian Province, China. Guided by life course theory, the findings indicate that grandchild caregiving is significantly associated with a lower likelihood of post-retirement labor market reentry. In contrast, caring for older parents or in-laws shows no statistically significant association with reemployment. Although specific to this urban demographic, these results question the efficacy of China’s current domestic support and retirement policies. The study highlights the need for targeted reforms that enhance state-sponsored household care and challenge gendered labor roles, thereby promoting female labor participation and mitigating the socio-economic pressures of an aging population.