A life-course perspective on ethnic differences in women's economic activity in Britain

This paper examines the relationship between family formation, qualifications and employment for women from white and minority ethnic groups using a life-course approach. Cross-sectional data from the British Quarterly Labour Force Survey for 1992-2003 were used to estimate the relationships. There are major differences between ethnic groups in the likelihood of being economically active, after controlling for life-course and level of qualifications. These are greatest for Pakistani and Bangladeshi women and least for Black Caribbean women. However, predicted probabilities of being economically active are very similar - over 90 per cent - for all young women (aged 19-34) with a degree level qualification who have neither partner nor child. For all women, rates of economic activity are lower with young children, but again vary between ethnic groups. Employment patterns for Black Caribbean women are consistent with economic migration and norms of motherhood that encompass both roles of bread-winner and parent. In contrast, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women's patterns of economic activity reflect a strongly gendered division of labour where motherhood is associated with full-time care for children.