Unemployment and the timing of parenthood

BACKGROUNDIn many countries, including the UK, unemployment is associated with earlier entries into motherhood.However, the implications of male unemployment are not straightforward. OBJECTIVEThe paper addresses this issue by investigating transition to first births in relation to unemployment experience as moderated by partnership status.It also examines the effects of both partners" employment statuses on transition into parenthood, focusing on the joint labour market status of cohabiting and married couples.http://www.demographic-research.orgCONCLUSIONS Different mechanisms explain the relationship between unemployment and fertility timing for non-married and married individuals.Neoclassical family models seem to determine parenthood timing among married individuals, whereas early parenthood among non-married individuals can be explained by an uncertainty reduction strategy or discouragement from marriage.