Juggling Job, Parenthood Easier with ACA

Lifestyle

Obie Editorial Team

  • 13.41% of the work force in 2009
  • 13.07% in 2010
  • 13.10% in 2011
  • 13.27% in 2012
  • 13.15% in 2013
  • 13.23% in 2014

There was only a 2.08% rise in voluntary part-time employment between 2013 and 2014 but the details of who chose part-time work reveals a family-friendly workforce since the ACA was first available:

  • 6,252,847 men of any age chose part-time work in 2014, a drop of 0.19%.
  • 13,254,886 women of any age chose part-time work, a 3.18% increase.

By age, the number of voluntary part-time workers fluctuated between 2013 and 2014 by:

  • 0.81% increase in workers aged 56 to 65.
  • 5.15% decrease in ages 46 to 55.
  • 0.84% increase in ages 36 to 45.
  • 3.34% increase in workers aged 16 to 35 who had no children.
  • 10.22% increase in workers, 16 to 35 years old who had 1 or 2 children.
  • 15.41% increase in voluntary part-time workers aged 16 to 35 who had 3 or more children.

The authors of the study acknowledge the ACA is still new and not fully in effect yet. It’s too soon to predict if this pattern of young parents choosing part-time work to better juggle family obligations with income-producing jobs will continue in coming years. It’s likely the ACA, coupled with innovations in the workplace that include job sharing, flexible hours, and telecommuting, will work together to allow young parents to effectively work and raise a family with greater ease than ever before.


Sources:

  1. Jorgensen, Helen, and Dean Baker. "The Affordable Care Act: A Family-Friendly Policy." CEPR / Center for Economic and Policy Research. Center for Economic and Policy Research, Sep. 2014. Web. 26 May 2015.
  2. Baker, Dean. "Obamacare Is Making It Easier to Be a Young Working Parent." Mother Jones. Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress, 19 May 2015. Web. 26 May 2015.