Gender differences in job flexibility: Commutes and working hours after job loss

Abstract

This paper studies whether women and men cope with job loss differently. Using 2006-2017 Dutch administrative monthly microdata and a quasi-experimental empirical design involving job displacement because of firm bankruptcy, we find that displaced women are more likely than displaced men to find a flexible job with limited working hours and short commutes. Relative to displaced men, displaced women tend to acquire a job with an 8 percentage points larger loss in working hours and an 8 percentage points smaller increase in commuting. However, displaced women experience longer unemployment durations and comparable hourly wage losses. Job loss thus widens gender gaps in employment, working hours and commuting distance. Further, results point out that displaced expectant mothers experience relatively high losses in employment and working hours, amplifying child penalty effects. The findings show that firm bankruptcy for expectant mothers widens gender gaps in employment and working hours.