Impact of Childcare Access on the Quality of Women's Employment:Based on China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) Data

Using China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) panel data for 2016, 2018, and 2020, a multinomial logit model and a Heckman sample selection model are used to explore the impact of childcare access on women’s quality of employment by distinguishing between formal and informal employment. The study shows that childcare access is one of the important factors affecting women’s quality of employment. Childcare access has a significant positive effect on women’s informal employment choices and their wage levels compared to not working, but it does not have a significant effect on women’s formal employment choices and their wage levels. Overall, childcare access mainly affects women’s informal employment who can adjust their working hours according to the needs of childcare. Regardless of whether the type of employment is an active or forced choice of women, it is urgent to pay attention to the changes in the status of formal and informal employment, improving access childcare through the development of inclusive childcare institutions, strengthening social security for informal employment groups, and implementing active labour market policies are imperative to improve the quality of women’s employment.