Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childbearing on Hold: the 1958 And 1970 Birth Cohorts

Compared

Roona Simpson, CRFR,University of Edinburgh

UPTAP Conference, LeedsMarch 21st to 23rd 2007

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Total Fertility Rate, UK Source: ONS 2006

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Completed Family Size, Selected Birth Cohorts at age 45 Source: ONS Birth Statistics, Series FM1 33

0

5

10

15

20

25

1920 1940 1945 1950 1955 1959

Birth Cohorts

Per

cen

tag

e

No Children One child Four or more

Centre for Research on Families and RelationshipsCentre for Research on Families and Relationships

Fertility Rates: by age of motherSource: Social Trends 35, ONS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Under 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44

Age of woman

Liv

e b

irth

s p

er

10

00

wo

me

n

1971

19811991

2001

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness at 29, by Cohort and Sex (%)

4759

3345

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1958 1970

Birth Cohort

Perc

en

tag

es

Men

Women

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness at 29, by

Social Class Background (%)

47

59

33

45

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1958Men

1970 1958Women

1970

Birth Cohort and Sex

I and II IIINM IIIM IV and V No Father Figure TOTAL

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness by Educational

Attainment, Early Thirties (%)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Men Women Men Women

1958 1970

Birth Cohort and Sex

No Qualiications

School Level

Tertiary

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Current Economic Activity by Parental Status

• Significant differences amongst women by parental status: the vast majority of childless women born in 1958 were in full-time employment, 82% compared to 22% of mothers. The picture for men was very different however, with a slightly higher proportion of fathers (90% compared with 88%) working full-time. Thus, men are overwhelmingly in full-time employment, regardless of parental status.

• Looking at the 1970 cohort indicates very little change over time (80% of childless women worked full-time compared with 22% of mothers). The figures for men had also not changed, with 88% of fathers and childless men working full-time.

• Childless women from both cohorts are less likely than fathers of the same age to be working full-time, and more likely to be categorised as either working part-time or looking after home and family (over 12%) than fathers (less than 3% in both cohorts).

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness by Partnership Status

Considerable changes in patterns of family formation in recent decades include dramatic changes in partnership as well as parenthood. The proportion of men who remain never-married in their early thirties increased from a fifth (21%) of those born in 1958 to 57% born in 1970. The respective figures for women were 14% to 44%. While increased cohabitation accounts for some of this decline, other analyses of the cohort studies demonstrates there is also a rise in relationship dissolution; twice as many men and women born in 1970 have been in at least one previous relationship (Ferri et al, 2003).

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness by Partnership Status amongst Women

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Married Cohabiting Single Never-Married Previously Married

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Married Cohabiting Single Never-Married Previously Married

1958 Cohort

1970 Cohort

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Childlessness by Partnership Status amongst Men

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Married Cohabiting Single Never-Married Previously Married

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Married Cohabiting Single Never-Married Previously Married

1958 Cohort

1970 Cohort

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

References

• Berrington, A. (2003) Change and Continuity in Family Formation among Young Adults in Britain, SSRC Working Paper A03/04, University of Southampton.

• Ferri, E. , Bynner, J. and Wadsworth, M. (eds.) (2003) Changing Britain, Changing Lives: Three Generations At The Turn Of The Century, London : Institute of Education, University of London

• Makepeace, G. Dolton, P., Woods, L., Joshi, H, and Galinda-Rueda, F. (2003) ‘From School to the Labour Market’ , in Ferri, E., Bynner, J. and Wadsworth, M. (eds.) Changing Britain, Changing Live, London: Institute of Education