How first-time mothers bundle work and safety nets

Being a first-time mother carries substantial consequences, including financial strain, mental and physical health adjustments, and impacts on job stability and time use. Dynamics of safety net usage among first-time mothers are well-documented, but little is known about how new mothers coordinate work and public benefits together. In this research, we study population-level employment and social safety net program participation among new mothers by linking birth records in Oregon between 2016 and 2017 to wage and program enrollment data from 2014 through 2019. Following new mothers for two years before and after their childbirth, we find a significant decrease in mothers’ employment in the quarters surrounding childbirth with a corresponding surge in reliance on safety net benefits. We also find that education, marital status, and income level were key determinants of shaping work and safety net usage patterns among first-time mothers. These shifts were especially pronounced among low socioeconomic status women, who demonstrate greater responsiveness in employment and safety net utilization around the time of birth. Our findings point to the importance of integrating both work and safety net program participation and demonstrate gaps where additional work-supports and safety net engagement would promote economic security.