New mothers, employment and income: Analysis using the person level integrated dataset

This AIFS report shows that mothers’ employment around childbirth is strongly shaped by age, education, family circumstances, and job characteristics, with significant variation in pre-birth work, return-to-work patterns, and income outcomes.

Using linked Census and administrative (ATO) data, this report examines how Australian mothers engage in employment before and after the birth of a child, highlighting substantial differences across demographic and socio-economic groups. It finds that mothers who are younger, have lower education, or have more children are less likely to be employed before birth, while those with higher education are more likely to have stronger workforce attachment.

After childbirth, employment patterns vary depending on factors such as partner income, job type, and access to leave, with some mothers more likely to return to work quickly while others remain out of the workforce or on leave.

The report also shows how these employment patterns affect individual and family income, including reliance on government payments, and underscores how structural and job-related factors shape mothers’ capacity to maintain employment through the transition to parenthood.