Poor labour market prospects due to intensive caregiving? Childcare and eldercare among welfare recipients in Germany

Abstract

Despite the favourable economic situation in Germany over the last decade, the number of welfare recipients (~5 million) remained at a persistently high level. One factor limiting individuals' abilities to exit welfare dependency into employment is informal care. This article analyses two aspects of informal care: childcare, considering the number of caregivers in a given family constellation, and the amount of time spent on eldercare. A panel of survey data with comprehensive information on welfare recipients is used. The waves from 2006 to 2017 are included. The results suggest that the chances of exiting welfare dependency for those in jobs covering needs are strongly impacted by the intensity of caregiving. Single parents, as well as welfare recipients who spend >10 h/wk on eldercare, especially persons providing both of these types of caregiving, have the lowest probabilities of leaving welfare dependency among all recipient groups.

Career Disruption and Employment Status of Korean Family Caregivers of Older Adults Using Home-Based Care

“…Several studies have focused on the relationship between family caregiving and labor market participation, claiming that informal care plays a crucial role in explaining employment. The results have been inconsistent, with some studies reporting a negative relationship between family caregiving and employment [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] and others finding no correlation [ 19 , 20 ]. In Korea and Japan, where female family members are considered primary caregivers, studies focus on the female workforce.…”