Maternal employment, maternal job characteristics and child wellbeing

Abstract

The Australian labour market has transformed in important ways over the last five decades. Changes include the emergence of new employment forms characterised by non-standard schedules, job insecurity, long work hours, and underemployment, as well as increases in women's involvement in paid work-particularly amongst mothers. These changes have had implications for the organisation of childcare and the resources available to parents to facilitate child development, which raises questions about potential flow-on impacts on child wellbeing.