ABSTRACT
In this paper we examine the effect of career breaks on the working lives of women using
survey data from the state of Queensland in Australia.
After estimating the income penalty
faced by women with career interruptions - according to the duration of, and reasons for, the
interruptions – we seek to address a wider set of issues regarding: patterns of job change and
income gains or losses related to job change; determinants of career re-entry plans; and
satisfaction with hours worked. As women increasingly combine motherhood and
employment, they face both penalties and costs, particularly if they have taken a career break
in order to care for their young. This general labor market failure that penalizes motherhood
should be addressed by relevant measures related to their income, working hours and the
type and status of employment particularly on their reentry into employment after a child
related career break.
https://genderlibrary.org/a/images/papers/MS00.014R5_Borooah.PDF.pdf