The Efffect of Work Interruptions on Women’s Wages

This paper examines the effects of work interruptions on women’s wages, focusing particularly on work interruptions to give birth. It also accounts for whether mothers return to work at their pre‐childbirth jobs after giving birth. The results show that work interruptions in general and work interruptions specifically to give birth reduce wages. However, the negative effects of work interruptions to give birth are at least partially eliminated when controlling for whether mothers return to work for their pre‐childbirth employers. Also, these effects are temporary and do not persist beyond the second year after returning to work.