Understanding the effects of California’s paid family and medical leave law on inequality in labor market outcomes for older adults

Grant description:

The project seeks to identify the causal impact of paid leave on older workers. This is particularly important since older people face greater barriers to re-entering the labor force, so better understanding how public policy can help people stay attached to the labor force is important. This is especially true for women who tend to bear the responsibility of caregiving and are likely to live longer. The research team will use the American Community Survey to span the pre- and post-law period in order to provide evidence on the causal effect of California’s paid family leave policy. They will consider three aspects of work—weeks worked, hours worked, and earnings—to provide a fuller picture of how the labor market experience is impacted.