Kids Bring Unexpected Benefits

In fact, compared to employees who have never been parents, those with children under 18 earn more, work more hours and have a smaller chance of being unemployed, on average, according to EFP analysis.

The group also enjoys benefits such as childcare reimbursement or employer provided childcare.

The median annual income of a 30-year old college educated parent is $36,000 while their childless peers earn $35,000. The gap widens to $48,000 compared to $40,000 by age 39.

Labor of Love?

The study notes that parents with children under 18 work an average of 41 hours/week, but that workers that have never been parents work an average of three hours less per week. Part of the difference is explained by a higher preference for part-time work among non-parents (26.3%), compared with just 16.1% of parents with young children.

More than half (62.6%) of workers in the civilian labor force currently do not have children under the age of 18. Of these, 54% have never had children, while the remainder have children 18 years or older.

Men and women who have never been parents participate in the labor force at similar rates, 85% and 80% respectively. However fathers with children under the age of 18 are more likely to be in the labor force (96.1%), while the reverse is true for their female counterparts (73.6%). This gap narrows as children age.

The report is online at http://www.epf.org/research/newsletters/2001/ff20010329.pdf