Variation in Multiple Job Holding Rates Among Women with Young Children as an Indicator of Worklife Balance

Abstract

This paper presents 1981 to 2001 census statistics on multiple job handling rates of women living in households with children under two by women’s age and occupation as an indicator of work life balance issues. Trends in multiple job holding rates by women living in households with children under two are compared with multiple job holding rates for women in other types of households. Multiple job holding by women living in households with children under two peaked in 1996. Multiple job handling rates by women aged 20 to 29 years living in households with children under two are almost identical to those for all working women aged 20 to 29 years but tend to be much lower for women of other age groups. The margin between multiple job holding rates of women living in households with children under two and others tends to be higher for high socio-economic status than low socio-economic status occupations. This suggests that economic and career pressures on work life balance are highest in young adulthood when women are juggling entry into the work force, family formation and the costs of setting up their own households. Financial pressures to remain in the work force with young children impose stranger work life balance pressure on families on low incomes rather than those of higher income professionals.