The effect of gender first child on labor market behavior of ethnic groups in the United States

In this paper, the effect of the first child’s gender on the amount of work hours per week and the annual income has been examined. In general, the amount of work hours increases when the first child is a daughter and not a son. Regarding income, a first child daughter decreases the annual income relative to a first child son. In this study, I also look at differences in labor market behavior between males and females, and between ethnic groups. When looking to two years after first birth, men work significantly more with a first girl relative to a son. After the distinction of ethnic groups, the results show that ‘Black’ men work more with a first girl relative to a son. ‘Non-Hispanic, Non-Black’ people have a lower income with a first daughter relative to a first child son. A distinction between gender and ethnicity shows that this applies only for ‘Non-Hispanic, Non-Black’ women.