Fertility Crisis: Impact On Employment

Fertility rates have reached a critical low in some countries across the globe. In several countries births have fallen below the rate necessary to sustain the current population and it is predicted that many more countries will experience sub-replacement fertility rates in the years ahead. At the same time, the average age at which women have their first child is rising, in many countries to over 30.

Becoming a parent, however, can be a complex and difficult journey for many. Statistics published this month by the World Health Organisation reveal the scale of this problem, with one in six people now affected by infertility across the globe. Alongside these trends, female participation in the labour market is growing, meaning that women are more likely to be in work when they have a child or when struggling with infertility.