Inflexions des trajectoires professionnelles des hommes et des femmes après la naissance d'enfants

Career changes for men and women after childbirth. Although it seems clear that childbirth does not affect the careers of men and women symmetrically, quantitative data measuring such effects are few and far between. One of the objectives of the Families and Employers survey conducted by INED and INSEE in 2004-2005 is to assess the impact of childbirth on the career of both parents. To do so, the survey combines statements about careers in the year following childbirth and a calendar of professional and family activities. For men, childbirth may on occasion lead to a modification in professional activity, but such changes concern a position or job change or an increase in activity or responsibility. The advent of a child more often leads to career interruptions for women. The effect is amplified with successive births. Changes are quite varied after the first birth : resignation or exit of activity ; full-time parental leave ; change in jobs, parttime and unemployment. After a second or third birth, a greater proportion of women take parental leave or part-time work. The divide between men and women widens as the number of births rises.