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Young Children and Parents’ Labor Supply During COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Barkowski
  • Joanne Song McLaughlin
  • Yinlin Dai

Abstract

We study the relationship between childcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and parental labor supply. Using monthly Current Population Survey data and following a pre-analysis plan, we implement three variations of an event study research design comparing workers with varying levels of childcare responsibilities. The first compares parents with young children to adults without young children, while the second and third rely on the presence of someone who could provide childcare in the household: a teenager in one and a grandparent in the other. Across these approaches, we find that childcare needs were not negatively associated with parents’ labor supply during the pandemic. We also do not find any difference in estimates between men and women. At the onset of the pandemic, many employers adopted flexible working arrangements. We provide evidence suggesting that the ability to work remotely may have helped many parents avoid labor supply decreases.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Barkowski & Joanne Song McLaughlin & Yinlin Dai, 2025. "Young Children and Parents’ Labor Supply During COVID-19," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 11(3), pages 431-453.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:amjhec:doi:10.1086/729410
    DOI: 10.1086/729410
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    1. Misty L. Heggeness, 2020. "Estimating the immediate impact of the COVID-19 shock on parental attachment to the labor market and the double bind of mothers," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1053-1078, December.
    2. Lisa Hanzl & Miriam Rehm, 2023. "Less Work, More Labor: School Closures and Work Hours During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 252-284, October.
    3. Peter Hinrichs, 2021. "COVID-19 and Education: A Survey of the Research," Economic Commentary, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, vol. 2021(04), pages 1-6, March.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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