Differences in labour force participation by motherhood status among Turkish second generation and majority women across Europe

The children of Turkish immigrants are an increasingly important segment of European labour markets. These young adults are entering the prime working ages and forming families. However, we have only a limited understanding of the relationship between labour force participation and the transition to parenthood among Turkish second generation women. Using unique data from the Integration of the European Second Generation survey (2007/2008), we compare the labour force participation of Turkish-second-generation women and their majority-group counterparts by motherhood status in four country contexts. We find evidence that motherhood penalties, with respect to labour force participation, are similar for majority and Turkish second generation women in Germany and Sweden, however there may be a larger penalty for second generation mothers in the Netherlands and France. Findings are consistent with the view that national normative and social policy contexts are relevant for the labour force participation of the second generation.