Careers and motherhood: policies for compatibility

This paper examines the economic issues relevant to policy debatesthat surround the increasing labour force participation of mothers.We review the main changes in women's labour market participationin Britain. The main source of increase in women's participationrates has come from mothers returning to work after childbirthafter progressively shorter intervals. The major influenceson this behaviour and the length of time spent out of work overthe first childbirth and the associated empirical work are alsoreviewed. These changes have raised issues relevant to maternityand parental leave, childcare provision, employers' family-friendlyworking arrangements and children's welfare. The paper makessome recommendations about how to further gender equity in aform compatible with family life.