Labour participation of mothers continues to rise

Just over half of women with under age children had a part-time job in 2007. This is more than in 2006. The share of mothers working for twenty hours a week or more in particular has risen. Jobs for three days a week are most popular.

One quarter of mothers work three days a week
In 2007 two-thirds of mothers worked for more than 12 hours a week and were thus included in the employed labour force.  Most working mothers had a part-time job. Just over one quarter worked for three days a week (20-27 hours). Fewer than one in ten worked full-time (35 hours or more).

Working hours of mothers with under age children, 2007

Longer part-time jobs becoming more popular

Part-time employment has been increasing for years now. The share of mothers in part-time jobs with longer working hours in particular increased in 2007. The percentage of mothers with a job of 20–27 hours a week and 28–34 hours a week rose by about two points in 2007. This was at the expense of jobs of 12–19 hours  week and of mothers who did not work at all. The percentage of mothers working full-time remained unchanged.

Working hours of mothers with under age children

Higher educated mothers work longer hours

Two out of every five mothers with a high level of education had a job of 28 hours or more in 2007. This is twice the share of mothers with a low level of education. More than half of the latter category were not in the employed labour force. Mothers with an intermediate level of education were more likely than average to have a part-time job of 12-19 hours.

Working hours of mothers with under age children by level of education, 2007

Johan van der Valk