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Nappies, books and wrinkles: How children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Parvinder Kler

    (Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Australia)

  • Azhar Hussain Potia

    (Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Australia)

  • Sriram Shankar

    (Centre for Social Research and Methods, Australian National University, Australia)

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of underemployment among part-time employed Australian females, accounting for the interaction of their age, educational qualifications and offspring presence. Females who are young, tertiary educated and without offspring are likeliest to be underemployed, and in general the presence of children lowers the probability of underemployment for those aged below 35, but this impact ameliorates significantly for those aged 35 and above. Policies to address female underemployment need to account for the fact that there is no representative ‘average female worker’, so as to ensure requisite policies better target those most at risk of underemployment. This finding holds for those working either minimum or maximum hours within the part-time spectrum, where greater uniformity of underemployment is found. Age of offspring affects the likelihood of underemployment with younger offspring reducing the incidence of a mismatch between preferred and actual hours, while the opposite holds for older offspring.

Suggested Citation

  • Parvinder Kler & Azhar Hussain Potia & Sriram Shankar, 2023. "Nappies, books and wrinkles: How children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(1), pages 138-160, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:44:y:2023:i:1:p:138-160
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X211064335
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    Keywords

    Females; part-time employment; underemployment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

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