The divergence of labour force participation upon motherhood among migrant descendants and natives in Germany

This study investigates labour force participation of women of immigrant family background in Germany before and after having a first child. We consider the labour market characteristics of their parents to contribute to the debate of structural versus cultural differences in labour market outcomes among descendants (native-born with immigrant family background) and autochthonous individuals ("natives", native-born without detectable immigrant family background). We apply competing risks event history models to data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) to study transition to the labour market after education and after giving a first birth. First, women from Southern European and Polish descent are more likely than their non-European counterparts to engage in the labour market before and after giving a first birth. Second, we find that women whose parents worked in higher prestige jobs have higher rates of entry to employment and return to the labour market after having a first child. The effects of the mother’s occupation and those of the father’s are similar, showing little gender-specific social reproduction. Group differences in labour market entrance diminish after a first birth, suggesting that parenthood itself is a selective process regardless of individuals' social and family background. We find support for intergenerational transfer of gender roles, particularly among those whose parents had lower prestige jobs and from non-European family backgrounds. This work significantly enriches research on ethnic minority integration by highlighting the interplay between social background and ethnic origin.