Abstract
Participation in paid employment, particularly high-quality employment, is linked with a range of economic, social, psychological, and health benefits. Reduced participation – either through periods of nonparticipation or through reduced hours of participation – limits career progression and achievement in terms of pay and conditions, as well as the accumulation of the benefits associated with paid employment. Persistent gender differences in responsibility for unpaid care work within homes and communities mean that women’s work life courses remain much more likely than men’s to include reduced employment hours and periods of nonemployment in many countries. The aim of this chapter is to review current evidence on gender differences in labor market participation over the life course and the potential consequences of work discontinuities for economic, health, and well-being outcomes, with a particular focus on studies using life course data. The chapter finishes by drawing on international evidence to highlight possible policy solutions for reducing stubborn gender inequalities in access to high-quality employment and equal pay.
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McMunn, A. (2023). Gender Differences in Work Participation over the Life Course and Consequences for Socioeconomic and Health Outcomes. In: Wahrendorf, M., Chandola, T., Descatha, A. (eds) Handbook of Life Course Occupational Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94023-2_21-1
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