The Participation of Women in the Labour Market and Childcare Investment : Views from Europe

抄録

One of the most important changes that have taken place in European societies since the 1960s and 1970s has been the incorporation of women to paid employment. The industrial economy-pretty much built around male workers has given way to a service economy changing jobs and also workers. These changes in employment together with changes in the role of women has brought about a wide number of tensions and conflicts in modern European societies. This presentation will firstly revise changing dynamics and existing tensions between the participation of women in paid employment and fertility. Secondly, the presentation will look at developments in childcare provision (Early Childhood Education and Care - ECEC) within the frame- work of a proposed paradigm change of welfare states through 'social investment'. The presentation will give an overview of the current academic and political debate around the pros and cons of expanding service provision for small children (that is, children under compulsory school age). Developments in ECEC have certainly been backed up by a vast amount of research that prove, albeit with different emphasis, positive links between investment in ECEC and (1) female labour force participation, (2) fertility dynamics (3) children's opportunities in life and (4) productivity imperatives in the knowledge-based economy. Despite the fact that causal connections are very difficult to identify [Gerda and Andersson, 2008], it truly exists strong empirical evidence on the connections between the labour market participation of women - specially mothers with under school age children - and availability of childcare provision and/or other family-oriented policies [Kamerman and Moss 2009; Boje and Ejnraes 2011]. Family policies oriented towards female employment - such as availability of public childcare - have a positive impact on levels of female employment [Gauthier, 2007] and vice versa. However, there are significant differences between European countries not just in levels of ECEC coverage but on aspects related to the quality of the provision. Furthermore, it is important to look at ECEC development within broader policies for the reconciliation of work and family life, mainly forms of flexible but secured employment and parental leave schemes. The presentation will finally give an overview of the present challenges and dilemmas that European countries face nowadays with expanding ECEC services in the context of strong austerity social and economic programmes that the EU is imposing on member states as a response to the economic crisis.