Baby Bumps in the Road: The Impact of Parenthood on Job Performance, Human Capital, and Career Advancement

Olivia Healy () and Jennifer A. Heissel ()
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Olivia Healy: Elon University
Jennifer A. Heissel: Naval Postgraduate School

No 16743, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper explores whether and why a maternal "child penalty" to earnings would emerge even without changes in employment and hours worked. Using a matched event study design, we trace monthly changes in determinants of wages (job performance, human capital accumulation, and promotions). Data come from a usefully unusual setting with required multiyear employment and detailed personnel data: the United States Marine Corps. Mothers' job performance initially declines, and gaps in promotion grow through 24 months postbirth. Fathers' physical fitness performance drops somewhat but recovers. These patterns lead mothers to earn relatively lower wages, even absent changes in employment postbirth.

Keywords: gender wage gap; child penalty; parenthood; promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 J18 J24 J45 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 79 pages
Date: 2024-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-gen and nep-lma
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Published - published online in: Review of Economics and Statistics , 22 August 2024

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