Where Did All the Free Family Firm Labor Go? Women’s Changing Role and Inclusion in the US Economy

Abstract

This chapter explores various structural, socio-cultural and economic factors that have precipitated the significant change in the supply of free family firm workers, specifically women’s unpaid labor. To investigate these concerns, we use longitudinal data from the U.S. Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We provide a general overview of critical social, cultural and economic factors impacting women’s opportunities since 1948, with an emphasis on recent historical changes between 1994 and 2020.

We find that, among other factors, the deinstitutionalization of marriage, changing rates of educational attainment, fluctuating labor force participation, economic recessions and women’s rights movements have led to a steep decline in unpaid female family workers. We further assess the distribution of unpaid family workers by industry and by age of worker to build a more nuanced picture of this trend. We sought to determine where these unpaid female workers went --to industry jobs, government work or self-­employment.

Given that complex national-level factors will continue to impact women’s life choices, family firms should consider the short- and long-term impact of the changing social value of women and their roles in family firms. We suggest family firms: ensure appropriate financial compensation for talented women, provide a range of supportive options for work-family balance to increase retention, and consider differential work opportunities for women at the start of their professional lives and those who may be interested in contributing to their families’ business in the later years of their careers.

Citation

Kushins, E.R. and Quispe-Agnoli, M. (2022), "Where Did All the Free Family Firm Labor Go? Women’s Changing Role and Inclusion in the US Economy", Trevinyo-Rodríguez, R.N. and Gallo, M.Á. (Ed.) The Power of Inclusion in Family Business, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 61-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-578-420221004