An Analysis of the Relationship between Occupation and Women Who Continue Working after Childbirth in Japan

Kayo Nozaki, Keio University and Hitotsubashi University

In this study, we investigate the relationship between women who continue working after childbirth and their occupation before childbirth using data from a nationwide survey in Japan. A continually decreasing number of live births and increasing maternal age have led to a reduction in the working-age population, which will ultimately lead to a workforce shortage. One way of solving this problem is to utilize the potential female workforce. This analysis will enable us to ascertain whether there are particular occupations in which it is easier for women to continue working after childbirth. Our empirical results showed that women engaged in professional occupations and manufacturing occupations had a higher probability of continuing work after the first childbirth than women engaged in other occupations. Further, the probability of women continuing work after the second childbirth was not related to occupation.