Motherhood Penalty Continues to Push Turkish Women Out of the Workforce

A World Bank study finds that motherhood causes a sharp and long-lasting decline in women’s labor force participation in Turkey, while men’s careers remain largely unaffected after becoming fathers. The report says better childcare services, flexible jobs, and more progressive social norms are key to reducing the “child penalty” and improving women’s economic participation.

A new World Bank study has revealed how motherhood continues to reshape women's careers in Turkey, with many women leaving the labor market or moving into insecure jobs after having children. The report, prepared by researchers from the World Bank and Centro de Estudios en Finanzas Públicas (CEFIP), warns that the "child penalty" is not only a gender issue but also a major economic challenge for the country.

Using data from Turkey's Survey of Income and Living Conditions between 2006 and 2023, the researchers found that women's labor force participation drops sharply after the birth of the first child, while men's careers remain largely unaffected.

Childbirth Pushes Women Out of the Workforce

According to the study, women's labor force participation falls by around 44 percent after childbirth, while employment declines by about 40 percent. Even women who continue working face setbacks. Their working hours decline, and many move into informal or insecure employment without proper social security or legal protections.

The impact is long-lasting. Researchers found that the child penalty remains visible for at least ten years after the birth of the first child. Fathers, however, experience almost no disruption in employment or labor force participation after becoming parents.

The findings highlight how childcare responsibilities continue to fall mainly on women, forcing many mothers to reduce or give up paid work entirely.

Big Differences Across Turkey's Regions

The study also found major regional differences in how motherhood affects women's careers. Istanbul recorded some of the highest child penalties, with women's labor force participation dropping by more than half after childbirth. Other regions, such as West Anatolia and East Marmara, also showed high penalties.

In contrast, regions like the East Black Sea and Northeast Anatolia recorded smaller declines.

Researchers say these differences are linked to factors such as childcare availability, local job opportunities, family support systems, and social attitudes toward women's work.

Childcare and Family Support Matter

One of the strongest conclusions of the report is the importance of childcare support. Regions with fewer childcare centers tend to have larger child penalties. Turkey's public spending on early childhood education and care remains among the lowest in the OECD, far below countries with high female employment rates.

The study suggests that expanding affordable childcare services could help more women remain in the workforce after becoming mothers.

Family support also plays a major role. Women living with grandmothers or extended family members experience smaller labor market penalties after childbirth. Researchers believe that informal childcare support helps mothers continue working or return to work more easily.

Education also reduces the impact of motherhood. Women with university degrees and women who have children later in life generally face smaller career setbacks because they tend to have stronger work experience and higher earning potential before becoming mothers.

Social Norms Still Shape Women's Careers

The report argues that economics alone cannot explain the size of the child penalty. Social expectations around caregiving continue to influence women's decisions and opportunities.

Using data from the World Values Survey, researchers found that regions with more progressive attitudes toward women's employment and leadership roles tend to show lower child penalties. In areas with more traditional gender norms, women are more likely to leave the workforce after childbirth.

The study concludes that reducing the child penalty is essential for Turkey's future economic growth. With fertility rates falling and productivity growth slowing, the country can no longer afford to lose a large share of educated female talent after motherhood.

Researchers say policies such as expanding childcare services, promoting flexible work arrangements, encouraging fathers to share caregiving responsibilities, and improving women's access to quality jobs could help Turkey build a stronger and more inclusive economy.