The Role of Work Experience in Shaping the Entry into Motherhood: A Study for Italy

The goal of this study is to assess the role of labor-market attachment in first birth timing. I explore differences in the transition into motherhood by women's accumulation of on-the-job skills in Italy, and examine how this relationship is affected by women's educational qualifications. The results show that paid employment strongly conflicts with motherhood in Italy. However, the conflict seems much stronger for women with lower-secondary and upper-secondary education, while those with higher education are more likely to conceive their first child if they are employed. Furthermore, this research provides evidence that conditions for work and family reconciliation, although important, are not the only factors leading to fertility postponement.