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Number of Children and Female Labor Participation in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ke Wang

    (School of Statistics, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250220, China)

  • Guitao Zhang

    (Business School, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China)

  • Mengru Yu

    (The Financial Department, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Yangfei Gao

    (School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2300, Australia)

  • Yangyan Shi

    (Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

Abstract

The continuous decrease in the number of women of childbearing age and the consequent decrease in reproductive willingness have contributed to the continuous decrease in labor participation among Chinese women, which has negatively affected the stable socioeconomic development in terms of health. This paper deeply explores the intrinsic relationship between the number of children and women’s labor participation based on 2016 data from China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS). Our results show that there is an “inverted U-shaped” relationship between the number of children and the rate of women’s labor involvement; in other words, women’s labor participation shows a trend with the increase in the number of children, first rising and then falling; meanwhile, the relationship is more pronounced among women in eastern and central regions and towns. To this end, this study provides a theoretical research basis to effectively alleviate women’s selective pressure at home and work, and has a certain reference value for the Chinese government to improve women’s employment environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ke Wang & Guitao Zhang & Mengru Yu & Yangfei Gao & Yangyan Shi, 2022. "Number of Children and Female Labor Participation in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8641-:d:863777
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Monica Das Gupta & Jiang Zhenghua & Li Bohua & Xie Zhenming & Woojin Chung & Bae Hwa-Ok, 2003. "Why is Son preference so persistent in East and South Asia? a cross-country study of China, India and the Republic of Korea," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 153-187.
    2. David Bloom & David Canning & Günther Fink & Jocelyn Finlay, 2009. "Fertility, female labor force participation, and the demographic dividend," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 79-101, June.
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