Mothers’ participation in paid work: the role of ‘mini-jobs’

Publication type

Research Paper

Series Number

467

Series

Department for Work and Pensions Research Reports

Authors

Publication date

June 1, 2007

Abstract:

In late 2005 and early 2006, there was a gap of 15 percentage points in the rate of participation in paid work by mothers, according to whether they lived in a family with a partner or were living as a lone parent. Around half of this gap is a reflection of it being more common for mothers in couple families to work in a job where their hours are between one and 15 per week, referred to as 'mini-jobs'.

Previous research into 'mini-jobs' had identified a pattern of working in which mothers moved from not working at all, through a transitional period in a 'mini-job', to working 16 hours or more per week. One of the primary aims of this research was to consider how big a phenomenon is the use of 'mini-jobs' in moving into work of longer hours compared to other routes out of not working.

The research was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research and involved secondary analysis of the Families and Children Study survey. The analysis used data for five waves, covering the period from 2001 to 2005. FACS is a panel survey involving annual interviews which tracks families over time. It started in 1999 and is representative of families in Britain.

Subjects

Link

- http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_467.asp

Notes

Secondary analysis

report

#513248

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest