The motherhood wage gap: What about job amenities?

Women with children tend to earn lower hourly wages than women without children — a shortfall known as the ‘motherhood wage gap’. While many studies provide evidence for this empirical fact and explore several hypotheses about its causes, the impact of motherhood on job dimensions other than wages has scarcely been investigated. In order to assess changes in women's jobs around motherhood, I use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and employ a first difference analysis. The results reveal that women when having children accommodate at their original employer primarily through adjustments in working hours. Yet, when changing the employer women adjust their jobs in several dimensions, such as different aspects of the work schedule (working hours, work at night or according to a flexible schedule) as well as the level of stress. Further analysis provides some limited support for the motherhood wage gap being explained by adjustments in the work conditions.

► This study provides evidence for changes in women's jobs around motherhood.
► It uses the German Socio-Economic Panel and employs a first difference analysis.
► Mothers accommodate at their employer primarily through adjustments in working hours.
► When changing the employer women adjust their jobs in many more dimensions.
► Motherhood wage gap can be partially explained by adjustments in work conditions.