Making it Work: Migration, Motherhood and Employment in Australia

• In Event: 3251 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 11. Gender and Work

Abstract

The transition into motherhood is often associated with a reduction in work time reinforcing gender employment hierarchies. Here, we compare mothers’ employment status and work time prior to and following birth comparing immigrants to second- and third- and higher-generation Australians. Australia provides a valuable context to understand migration outcomes given its skilled-migrant policy and geographical isolation. To assess these relationships, we apply longitudinal data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) for 80,652 observations from 10,724 women and show that migrant women experience a more severe employment penalty following childbirth. Migrants from Asian countries experience the greatest employment disadvantage prior to and following childbirth, despite holding higher levels of college education. Our findings suggest an inefficiency in Australia’s skilled employment migration approach. Policy implications are discussed in the conclusion of this manuscript.

Authors

• Rennie Lee, University of Melbourne

• Leah Ruppanner, University of Melbourne

• Francisco Perales, University of Queensland