| “This analysis…used data…to explore whether moving into work soon after the birth of a child has a measurable impact on later employment outcomes.” “…we found that most mothers do not follow a smooth one-way movement into work. Employment trajectories are volatile, and this is true for mothers with qualifications as well as for those without.” “…half of the sample were found to be following what we termed an ‘unstable’ trajectory, including one in three observed moving in and out of work over the decade.” “Despite employment instability…mothers who return to work sooner after the child’s birth are much more likely to be observed in work when the child is ten…” “This is true across skill levels, but an earlier return appears most important in predicting later employment for mothers who are more disadvantaged – those who have few or no qualifications and do not own their own homes.” “Among women with at least advanced or vocational qualifications, wages when the youngest child is ten are 32% lower for those who returned to stable employment after the child turned five than for those who returned before the child’s third birthday, and 33% lower for those observed moving in and out of work over the period.” “Women are more likely to remain in jobs which offer good prospects, so to some extent the wage trajectory will drive the employment pathways, as well as vice versa.” “…downward mobility was much more prevalent among those moving in and out of work…” “The childcare tax credit…is payable only where all resident parents work, so a mother moving out of a job is likely to have to disrupt her child’s care arrangements.” “Working in the pre-school years seems to have the greatest impact on the likelihood of employment at ten for the more disadvantaged, and wages are higher at ten for those who have been in stable work longer.” “Of course, there are many other reasons to encourage maternal employment besides potential medium- and long-term employment outcomes: immediate income gains, possible benefits of formal childcare, the provision of a working role-model for children, and some evidence that employment may reduce maternal depression.” “The results appear to underline the need for social policies which foster sustainability and progression in employment in addition to those which facilitate the initial move into a job.” | 