Motherhood and Labor Market Trajectories in Türkiye

This study estimates the child penalty in Türkiye, defined as the negative impact of having a child on mothers' labor market outcomes. Utilizing the Survey of Income and Living Conditions data from 2006 to 2023, the analysis reveals a significant child penalty, which varies across regions within the country. Panel-based estimates show that women’s labor force participation drops by 44 percent in the year following child’s birth, while their employment rates decline by 40% percent. Additionally, for mothers who remained employed, their working hours decrease by approximately 7%, while the likelihood of informal employment increases by 69% three years after childbirth. The results highlight the persistence of the child penalty—lasting for at least 10 years after the birth of the first child—and stand in stark contrast to men’s labor market outcomes, which remain largely unchanged. The study identifies key factors that mitigate the penalty, including higher education, older age at birth, presence of grandmothers, availability of childcare services, and more progressive gender norms. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions that enhance gender equality in the labor market for mothers, such as expanding childcare services, promoting flexible work arrangements, and addressing gender norms.